The two-day China Education Exhibition 2004 kicked off in Kathmandu Saturday in a bid to provide information for the Nepalese students willing to study in China.

As many as 26 universities from various parts of China, including the world-famous Tsinghua University, Fudan University and Tongji University are participating in the exhibition, the second of its kind in the Himalayan kingdom.

The exhibition was jointly organized by the China Scholarship Council under the Chinese Education Ministry, the Chinese Embassy to Nepal and the Arniko Society of Nepal, a Sino-Nepal friendship organization.

The major objective of the exhibition is to impart first-hand knowledge and information to prospective Nepalese students and their families about the Chinese education system, individual universities and courses they offer.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Nepali Minister of Education and Sports Hari Bahadur Basnet said: "Nepal and China maintain friendly relationships in various fields, which can be further strengthened through this exhibition."

"China's education system is at the international level, and itis suitable for Nepalese students," Basnet noted.

He hoped the Chinese side will provide more chances and scholarship for the Nepalese students who want to study in China in the future.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Sun Heping said that China has given top priority to education, which is regarded as its basic state policy. Therefore, China has paid more attention to international cooperation and exchanges in the field of education.

The exhibition would offer the Nepalese students an important opportunity to consult with China's universities and help them develop direct contacts with the universities. Interested Nepalese students can apply for admission for the summer 2004 session directly at the exhibition, he added.

About 1,200 Nepalese students are currently studying different subjects such as medicine, engineering, tourism and business administration in China. The Chinese government has made available scholarship to 800 Nepalese students during the last four decades.

There are more than 400 universities and colleges in China admitting over 500,000 foreign students in recent years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2004)