An international school was established Saturday in Beijing's Zhongguancun scientific and technology park to accommodate the children of foreigners working in the area.

The school involved a total investment of 1.2 billion yuan ( US$144 million).

As more foreign investors come to manage businesses in Zhongguancun, the need to establish an international school exclusively for their children is urgent, said Su Hang, headmaster of the school.

He said that the Zhongguancun International School, a non- government-run school, will mainly invite foreign teachers and introduce teaching materials from the United States. All courses will be taught in English.

An official from the Zhongguancun park said that there are 535 enterprises set up by Chinese returned from abroad since July, 2000, prompting the need for an international school for their children who have already started their schooling abroad.

(People's Daily April 21, 2002)