An alumni association was launched to enhance good relations between South Sudan and China.

Simon Juach Deng, Director of the Department of China Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during the ceremony on Sunday in Juba that the South Sudan China Alumni Association (SSCAA) is a culmination of strong bilateral relations.

Deng said that the Chinese government has been supportive to South Sudan in establishing critical institutions and infrastructure critical for development in the youngest nation.

He urged the more than 200 members of SSCAA to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from their studies in various Chinese universities to benefit South Sudan.

Itoo Emmanuela, who benefited from the Chinese government scholarship in 2013 to study oil and gas storage and transportation, said the skills she acquired from China University of Petroleum-Beijing have helped her train colleagues she works with in the oil fields.

"We do train our staff who are working in the oil fields. We do provide them with environmental awareness and management," said Emmanuela, who works with South Sudan petroleum pipelines.

She expressed her optimism about the SSCAA, adding that it will bring together various South Sudanese who studied in China to share ideas and knowledge in order to support their country's development.