China seeking half a million foreign students by 2020

As part of its new education plan, China has set a goal of having half a million international students by 2020, more than doubling the 2009 figure of 240,000. The director-general of the education ministry's department of international co-operation and exchange says China's effort to encourage more overseas students to study in the country is "an important part of the country's diplomatic work to show Chinese culture to the global community." The top nations sending students to China this year are South Korea, the US, and Japan, the ministry reports. China Daily | The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access)