Institutions of higher learning in China and France should step up their exchanges and cooperation in engineering education, said an official with the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE) in Beijing Saturday.

Cao Guoxing, director of the ministry's Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, made the remark at a ceremony for the signing of an agreement between 26 Chinese universities, the network of French Engineering Institutes "n+i" and French enterprises in China. The agreement aims to enhance academic exchanges in engineering between the two countries.

Established in 2000, the "n+1" network is composed of 53 engineering institutes and schools covering various aspects of engineering. Foreign students, including Chinese students, will graduate with recognized master's degrees in engineering on completion of their studies in France.

Paul Jean-Ortiz, minister-counselor of the French Embassy in China, said at the ceremony that more Chinese students were expected to pursue further studies in France. Enterprises can, through cooperation with the network, provide scholarships for foreign students, and help discover international engineering talent, Jean-Ortiz added.

In 2003, the "n+1" network will enroll over 129 foreign students, including 66 Chinese.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2003)