UK and China boost learning links

The internet can bring educational contacts

The UK and China have signed a deal aimed at boosting education and training links.

Latest figures show an increase of 120% in the past year in the number of students wanting to come to the UK from China to study - from 655 to 1,445.

"Both countries realise the importance of the knowledge-based economy to our success and prosperity," said the Education and Employment Secretary, David Blunkett.

He was speaking after signing the agreement in Beijing with the Chinese Education Minister, Chen Zhili, during a five-day visit to China.

The HSBC bank is giving £130,000 over three years to the British Council, to expand the teaching of Mandarin Chinese in UK secondary schools.

Chinese - Mandarin or Cantonese - is one of 11 non-European languages that English schools are allowed to teach under the national curriculum.

English 'asset'

"Interest is growing among secondary schools for partnerships with schools in China and in the teaching of Mandarin Chinese, and we want to encourage this," said Mr Blunkett.

Nevertheless, this is always going to be tiny compared with the Chinese appetite for learning English - what the education secretary called "one of our most important assets".

There were more people learning English in China than there were native speakers of English in the world, he said.

He also sees great potential for more contact through the internet.

"I am sure there is much valuable experience China and the UK can share in expanding access and use of the internet, developing online learning networks and helping our two communities to forge greater cultural and educational links," Mr Blunkett said.