450 overseas schools to attend China Education Expo

About 450 overseas schools from 30 countries and regions are to attend the China Education Expo 2006 scheduled for Oct. 14 in Beijing.

British schools are the largest groups of participants at the expo, according to the organizer China Education Association for International Exchange.

Nearly 60 British schools of various kinds including higher learning institutions, language training schools and tourism management schools will take part in the expo and offer on-the-spot consultancy, said the organizer.

The expo will also attract 12 national education institutions from New Zealand, whose new policies will let foreign doctoral candidates enjoy the same tuition fees with local students.

More Chinese students are going abroad for education in recent years. Britain and New Zealand are the two prime destinations, with about 60,000 Chinese students in Britain and 30,000 in New Zealand at present.

According to the organizer, 53 Russian universities and colleges will also sign up for the expo.

As part of China's Russian Year, a Sino-Russian university president forum will also be held in Beijing University on the sidelines of the expo.

The expo, expected to attract 60,000 visitors, will tour around six Chinese cities and last till Oct. 29.

Since 1978, more than 400,000 Chinese students have studied abroad, with more than 100,000 returning to the country over the last two decades.

Source: Xinhua