Pursuing higher education in the People’s Republic of China will give you a competitive advantage compared to studying anywhere else in the world says Masters of Commercial Law graduate Adi Soloila Tukana Kubuabola, 31.

Ms Kubuabola recently graduated from Peking University; one of China’s elite C9 league universities.

Peking University gains its prestigious positioning in the leader board through its achievements in the field of Arts and Humanities, followed closely by Tsinghua University.

According to Ms Kubuabola’s university student coordinator, she is the third Fijian to graduate from Peking University after the first two Fijians who graduated in the 90’s.

Ms Kubuabola is the youngest daughter of Fiji’s Former Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

He was present at the graduation ceremony in Beijing accompanied by his wife Mrs Jiu Kubuabola, Ms Kubuabola’s partner Josua Dobui Lal, staff of the Fijian Embassy in China and some Fijian students studying in China.

In an interview with the Fiji Sun, Ms Kubuabola said through her education she has had firsthand experience of China’s rapid economic development over the years.

“The Chinese language is the world’s most commonly spoken language and their rapid economic development has really enabled China to impart some very useful knowledge to those who are willing to learn,” Ms Kubuabola said.

“I believe completing higher education in China will give you a more competitive advantage than completing higher education anywhere else in the world.”

“If you are thinking of where to pursue higher education abroad, then my answer would be to seriously consider China.”

Ms Kubuabola’s program was for a total of four years, two years for Chinese mandarin and two years for her Masters of Law program.

During the duration of her studies she said she was exposed to the Chinese people’s willingness to help, their generosity and kindness.

The motivation to study in China she says came from “China’s rapid economic and legal reforms.”

“The way China has achieved these reforms and tailor-made it to suit their own national circumstances is what I found to be truly impressive and I wanted to learn more on how they achieved this.”

Adi Soloila Tukana Kubuabola her mother Jiu Kubuabola with friends at the graduation ceremony in Beijing, China. Photo: Fonua Talei

Belt and Road Initiative

Ms Kubuabola’s thesis project was based on dispute resolution mechanisms in place for bilateral relations for Fiji and China under the Belt and Road Initiative that Fiji signed up for in November last year.

“It (thesis project) explores how Fiji and China’s trade and investment relations has strengthened in the last few years and even more so now with the implementation of the BRI,” she said.

“My thesis explores the legal mechanisms that are required to be implemented to resolve Investor-State disputes that may arise from the initiative.”

The BRI she shared is an “extensive mega-economic project that will bring about more investment opportunities for Fiji and China.”

“Therefore, there is a need to ensure that appropriate legal mechanisms are in place to ensure the protection of participating State’s interests and the protection of investment flowing out of China under the BRI.”

When questioned about the challenges she faced while pursuing her Masters degree, she said it was difficult to gather research done by Pacific Islanders on the BRI.

She thanked the staff of the Fijian Embassy in China for the support rendered to students and acknowledged the prayers of her Ratu, mum and siblings in Fiji and abroad.

Moving forward Ms Kubuabola plans to complete her Bar admission exams in Fiji and will also resume work at the Reserve Bank of Fiji.

Feedback: fonua.talei@fijisun.com.fj