China offers 100 state-funded university places for BSU, MSLU students

MINSK, 5 September (BelTA) - China is ready to offer 50 government-financed places to the students of the Belarusian State University (BSU) and the Minsk State Linguistic University (MSLU) apiece, Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said on 4 September as he visited Confucius Institute at the BSU, BelTA has learnt.

Liu Yunshan pointed out active cooperation in education between China and Belarus in recent years. “More students from Belarus come to our country. I would like to note that Confucius Institutes in Belarus foster such cooperation. I am glad that your students take a great interest in the Chinese language, culture and history,” he said.

Having visited BSU’s Confucius Institute and spoken to the students who learn the Chinese language the high guest has attended a lecture on the Chinese language and culture and visited a library and a photo exhibition at the institute. Liu Yunshan and the Belarusian side discussed the preparation for the 2013 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Europe which opening ceremony will be held at the Palace of the Republic on 11 September.

According to Belarusian Education Minister Sergei Maskevich, the state-funded places in Chinese universities will be first of all interesting for students of teachers' training courses. “We attach great importance to training highly skilled specialists in Sinology,” he remarked.

According to the Minister, about 30 Belarusian universities have over 100 direct agreements on cooperation in education and science with Chinese universities. “Belarusian universities are interested in accepting more foreign students and are ready to provide all necessary information concerning the list of programs, specializations, fees and the cost of living,” Sergei Maskevich noted.