More than 150 leaders, experts and scholars from universities of 12 countries and regions worldwide have gathered in this coastal city of east China's Fujian Province to discuss reform of higher education.

The three-day symposium has received some 100 papers submitted by participants from China's mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and the United States, Russia, Britain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Finland and Norway.

Participants will discuss such topics as Chinese culture and reform of higher education in the 21st century, and comparison of university enrollment, curriculum and teaching between universities and colleges from China's mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

They will also exchange views on internationalization and localization of higher education, and traditional Chinese culture and the development of higher education.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2003)