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More U.S. students get chance to learn Chinese in China

Xinhua, December 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

An agreement on extension of a summer program that allows U.S. students to learn Chinese in China for the next two years was signed on Thursday in Wilmington in the northeast U.S. state of Delaware.

Chinese sponsors, China's auto parts manufacturer Wanxiang Group, and the China General Chamber of Commerce in U.S.A. (CGCC), representing Chinese enterprises in the United States, signed the agreement with the Delaware State, promising to extend the program to 2016 and 2017.

The program, which began earlier this year, is part of a new initiative called "1 Million Strong" proposed by U.S. President Barack Obama during Chinese President Xi Jinxing's state visit this September. It aims to encourage 1 million American students to learn Mandarin Chinese over the next five years.

The initiative follows the "100,000 Strong Initiative," which was launched by Obama in 2009 with an aim to reach 100,000 cumulative number of Americans studying in China over a five-year period. The goal was achieved in 2014.

During the past summer, 20 high school students from Delaware, whose expenses were funded by Wanxiang and the CGCC, went to study for four weeks in China's eastern city of Hangzhou, where they took language classes, visited local schools, participated in cultural activities and toured sites of science and technology companies.

Jack Markell, governor of the U.S. state of Delaware, told Xinhua after the ceremony that the program is significant because those U.S. students "would have so many opportunities if they were able to speak Chinese, and just the whole world opens up to them."

His words were echoed by many others.

"We are thrilled to see the success of such a valuable program that helps U.S. and Chinese students -- our future leaders -- better understand each other's history, language and culture," said Carola McGiffert, CEO of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, who also leads the "1 Million Strong" Initiative.

Jake Borns, a junior student at Delaware's A.I. duPont High School, who took part in the program this summer, said it was a "life-change experience" for him. "The trip to China just took my breath away. I love the language and I definitely will go back to China again."

According to Wanxiang, which has funded similar programs in eight U.S. states, more than 600 U.S. students have had the opportunities to study in China.

Xu Chen, chairman of the CGCC and president and CEO of the Bank of China U.S.A., said that more Chinese companies will join Wanxiang in supporting the initiative. Endi