The government must work harder to ensure a better state of overseas education for Chinese students, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during an education conference on Friday and Saturday in Beijing, according to Women of China.
In his speech during the conference, which was on the advancement of overseas education among Chinese students as well as the education of foreign students in China, Xi expressed hope that Chinese students overseas could broaden their worldviews through their education in order to contribute to China's development.
Since China started its education reform in 1978, which encouraged studying abroad among its students, the country has had 3 million of its citizens earn education overseas.
Meanwhile, China currently has 360,000 foreign students studying in the country.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang echoed Xi's instruction regarding overseas education.
He urged Chinese foreign students to study hard in order to specialize in important fields, technology in particular.
The premier also called for the improvement of government efforts toward the education of foreign students studying in China, as well the deepening of China's relations with other countries through education.
Li asked the government to create an atmosphere wherein Chinese students who gained education abroad can flourish and effectively utilize the education they received in commerce and innovation.