H.E. Wang Xuefeng, Chinese Ambassador to the Independent State of Samoa and Hon. Magele Mauiliu Magele, Minister of Education, Sport and Culture signed the Handvoer Certificate on projects of Marine School (NUS Ocean Campus), Siumu Primary School and Loto Taumafai Center for Students with Disabilities in Samoa under the grant aid of the Chinese government on behalf of the Chinese and the Samoa government respectively on December 23, 2015.

To promote the friendship between the two countries, and for the development of education in Samoa, an agreement was signed in April 2012 between the two governments, that the Chinese Government will provide the grant aid for the projects of the Marine School (NUS Ocean Campus), Siumu Primary School and Loto Taumafai Society Center for Students with Disabilities in Samoa. With the joint efforts of Hon. Prime Minister Tuilaepa, the Chinese Embassy and China Hunan Construction Engineering Group Corporation as well as people from all walks of life in Samoa, the projects were commenced on March 6, 2014, completed in November 2015 and passed the joint inspection successfully. The completion ceremonies of the related projects were held on November 6, 2015, on the occasion of 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Samoa, Hon. Prime Minister Tuilaepa and Ambassador Wang Xuefeng graced the ceremonies and delivered remarks.

The three grand projects have become the new landmarks of the friendship between our two countries. In 2012, Siumu Primary School was virtually destroyed by Cyclone Evan and since then teachers and students have been using the village houses and the Congregational Christian church hall at Sa'aga for the school. The brand-new two-storey modern Siumu Primary School covers a total land area of 2376 square meters with 16 classrooms. In addition to the new building itself, the Chinese government has also equipped the school with new desks, chairs, computers and other facilities. The students will study in one of the best schools in Samoa.

Loto Taumafai Society was established in 1981. Over the years, teachers and students have been using premises leased from the government of Samoa. They have always been dreamed of having a center of their own. The completion of Loto Taumafai Society New National Disability Center means their long-cherished dream comes true. This grand project covers a total land area of 2485 square meters with 11 classrooms in 5 buildings including a two-story office block, computer rooms, a vocational workshop, gymnasium, a library, a special pool to treat the children and a dining hall. The Chinese government have also provided computers,desks, chairs, solar water heaters, elevators and barrier-free facilities for teachers and students in these buildings. The number of students that this center can accommodate will increase from 150 to about 400.

The Maritime Training and Marine Research Ocean Campus of NUS covers a total construction area of 4192 square kilometers in a total land area of 8150square kilometers with office building, classroom building, dormitory, simulation cabin and simulation wharf, etc.

With the opening of school of Maritime Training and Marine Research, faculties and students of Maritime Transport will have access to better teaching and training facilities and keep in line with international standards. There will be more and more qualified graduates from School of Maritime Training who will have more and better opportunities to be employed in the Samoan Maritime transport industry as well as in international institutions. Also, there will be better research and experiment facilities for faculties and students of Marine Research and Environment Research so that they will provide better support for Samoa to confront challenge of climate change. In a word, the establishment of the School of Maritime Training and Marine Research Ocean of NUS will play an active role in facilitating the further development of Maritime transport, tourism and international trade as well as conducting research in marine research, exploitation of marine resources and confronting challenge of climate change.

Ambassador Wang Xuefeng remarked that the handover of the three projects is just like the gift for Samoan people from Chinese people when Samoan people are celebrating the coming Christmas and New Year . He hopes that students will contribute to the friendship between China and Samoa so that it can be maintained generation after generation. Ambassador Wang Xuefeng also expressed his best wish to Samoan people and wished the friendship between two countries would go to a new height in 2016.