Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili has called for better promotion of Mandarin learning around the world in a bid to meet surging demand and expand the influence of Chinese culture in the world.

Chen said the country has decided to train more teachers, improve textbooks and build more Confucius institutes overseas and on-line which specialize in Chinese language and culture education.

Statistics from the Ministry of Education show more than 30 million people worldwide are learning Chinese and more than 2,500 universities in 100 countries and regions offer Chinese courses.

By June 2006, a total of 75 Confucius institutes had been established or were being build in more than 35 countries and regions, according to the Ministry.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2006)