Some 44,000 Chinese who studied abroad returned home last year, 4.79 percent more than in 2006, the Ministry of Education said on its website.

Meanwhile, 144,000 Chinese nationals went abroad for study, up 7.94 percent from 2006.

Among last year's returnees, 8,513 studied at government or company expense or on scholarships, while 36,000 paid their own way.

Those departing for studies abroad last year included 15,810 people who were funded by the government, a company or by scholarships. The rest were self-financed.

About 1.21 million Chinese studied abroad from 1978 to 2007, and 319,700 returned during that period, statistics show.

At present, 657,200 Chinese students are enrolled by foreign colleges and universities.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2008)