Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili has called for better
promotion of Mandarin learning around the world in a bid to meet
surging demand and expand the influence of Chinese culture in the
world.
Chen said the country has decided to train more teachers,
improve textbooks and build more Confucius institutes overseas and
on-line which specialize in Chinese language and culture
education.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education show more than 30
million people worldwide are learning Chinese and more than 2,500
universities in 100 countries and regions offer Chinese
courses.
By June 2006, a total of 75 Confucius institutes had been
established or were being build in more than 35 countries and
regions, according to the Ministry.
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(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2006)
