A total of 205 overseas Chinese students received the Tan Kah Kee Scholarship in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Oct 21, according to local media reports.

The students hail from nine different countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and are currently studying at a variety of Xiamen schools, including Xiamen University, Jimei University, and Huaqiao University.

Tan Kah Kee was a patriotic Malaysian Chinese business tycoon who enjoyed a high degree of influence in the overseas Chinese community in Southeast Asia in the 20th century. He encouraged many overseas Chinese to help aid China's development.

In 2017, the Xiamen government, in collaboration with Jimei University, established a scholarship under Tan's name to help overseas Chinese students from countries along the Maritime Silk Road and descendants of Jimei University alumni living in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan come study in Xiamen.

On the same day, 458 teachers were also awarded for their outstanding performance.

Jimei, a district in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, establishes a memorial for Tan Kah Kee, a patriotic Malaysian Chinese business tycoon. [Photo/IC]