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The number of foreigners studying in China has trebled since 1991 to more than 37,000, according to the State Education Commission.

Of these, 4,100 students from 147 countries were granted Chinese government scholarships. Forty per cent of these were for undergraduate courses, 18 per cent for masters, 4 per cent for doctorates and 38 per cent for other specialist courses. The remaining 32,903 students came on student exchanges, individual applications or via other routes.

Meanwhile 36 teachers working for Voluntary Service Overseas teachers from Britain, Germany and Canada have completed a three-week induction course in Chinese language and culture at Northwestern University in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, before starting their two-year teaching stint in China.

The organisation started dealing with China in 1981 and has since sent 500 of its personnel.