JUBA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has awarded scholarships to at least 240 South Sudanese students to study undergraduate and postgraduate programs at various Chinese universities.

Li Xiangfeng, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, said Saturday the scholarships are offered in a wide range of disciplines including medicine, economics, agriculture and international relations.

The envoy said the program is part of China's contribution to the development of South Sudan through supporting economic and human resource development.

Li remarked that human resource development programs in China will boost the knowledge needs of the People of South Sudan and the results will be social and economic development.

He revealed that Beijing has offered at least 4,100 scholarships and short-term training programs for South Sudanese since the birth of the world's youngest nation in 2011.

"I would like to appeal to our scholars to come back to South Sudan for a stronger state building of their nation and a better livelihood of the people," the envoy said.

"Furthermore, you are also ambassadors of South Sudan to China. We hope you would come back with not only knowledge and expertise, but also sincere friendship between our two nations and people," he added.

Yien Oral Lam, Minister of Higher Education, thanked the Chinese government for its willingness to help South Sudan, adding that South Sudan would continue to cooperate with the people of China because of their continued commitment to help the people of South Sudan.

"I appreciate our level of interaction with the people of China not only in the field of education, politics and economic development, but we want to continue with our social and cultural interaction with the Chinese people," Lam said.

Luka Monoja, representative of the South Sudan-China Friendship Association, said the scholarships would strengthen people to people relations and also boost bilateral ties between the two governments. He urged the students to utilize the opportunity to learn China's history of how it transformed from a developing country into the world's second biggest economy, and apply it in the development of the war-torn East African country.

"We hope that your going to China will bring new skills and knowledge that will benefit you and our country that needs a lot of things to be improved," Monoja said.