Continuous rain yesterday failed to dent the Chinese enthusiasm for overseas study as thousands of students and parents packed Shanghai's East China Exhibition Hall for the annual international education fair.

This year's fair, which opened yesterday, is the biggest ever and allows overseas schools and local students to meet face-to-face.

Organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, the fair has attracted more than 300 colleges, vocational schools and training institutes from more than 20 countries and regions.

Yesterday's opening drew parents and students not only from Shanghai but from neighboring provinces.

"I was besieged by visitors, who kept asking questions about whether they should go abroad and what life will be like there," said Xu Xun, an education official with the British Consulate General in Shanghai.

Britain has launched a special activity to highlight education in Wales in the British delegation of 40 schools this year.

Students who study in Wales will be able to join the "Go Wales" project to have internship opportunities in the region.

The International Graduates Scheme, which enables foreign graduates to stay in Britain to work for a year, is also expected to be extended to two years, consulate officials said.

The French government also initiated a special vocational training program to attract more Chinese students to take an employment-oriented degree program in France.

The number of Chinese students applying to study in France rose 30 percent to 10,800 last year, including about 2,000 from Shanghai, according to the French Consulate General in Shanghai.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2008)