SINGAPOREAN students on work attachments and internships in China will now be able to communicate and network with one another more quickly and easily.

Business China launched a Go East blog yesterday, for young Singaporeans working in China to find one another and share experiences during their stay in a particular city or at a particular company or university.

Josephine Teo, chairman of Business China’s Youth sub-committee, said the blog is aimed at promoting cultural exchange between young Singaporeans and the Chinese people, allowing Singaporean students to retain a comforting connection with home and encouraging bilingualism among the students through shared thoughts and insights.

Among the first students to benefit from the blog are 80 from Nanyang Technological University who are taking part in a flagship Global Immersion Program and who will spend the next six months working and studying in China. Other students are also encouraged to participate in blogging.

Lin Weiqi, who will head to China later this month, said that she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and history through her stay. By working, she will be able to absorb more of the environment there than if she were just studying, she said.

Joey Ng, another student, said he hopes to get a better grasp of the Chinese language during his stay and is looking forward to coming back to Singapore with “incredible experiences”.

Courtesy of The Business Times, July 19, 2008

• New blog for S’pore youth in China
  2008-07-19