Learning Chinese is basis for China-Belarus cooperation: education minister

MINSK, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Belarus and China have reached a high level of cooperation in education, and the study of the Chinese language in Belarus is the basis for interaction and cultural exchanges between the two countries, Minister of Education of Belarus Andrei Ivanets said in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the "Chinese Bridge" contest in Minsk.

Ivanets said that not only teachers from China are teaching Chinese for schoolchildren and university students, Belarusians have taught the winners of today's "Chinese Bridge" contest. The Chinese language has attracted the interest of Belarusian youth, and Chinese is being taught in 35 schools in Belarus.

Ivanets also noted the high interest of Chinese studying at Belarusian universities. More than 7,000 Chinese students are studying in Belarus. The best educational practices are being introduced in Belarus, and 11 joint Belarusian-Chinese programs are evidence of this, with diplomas being recognized both in China and Belarus.

China and Belarus have great prospects in the joint training of personnel in various areas, Ivanets said.