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Senior official meets US team of mandarin contest

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-25 20:00

BEIJING: Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong on Thursday met with Gaston Caperton, president of the US College Board, who led a delegation of 430 schoolmasters from 40 states to attend a Chinese language proficiency competition in Beijing.

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Liu welcomed Caperton and his delegation, and appreciated the College Board's efforts to promote learning the Chinese language and culture among American students.

Exchanges among languages and cultures of different nations play an irreplaceable role in enhancing understanding, mutual trust and friendship, as well as pushing forward civilization, Liu said.

The Chinese government highly emphasizes such exchanges with the United States and is willing to support and assist American schools to teach the Chinese language, Liu said.

In April, America's second National Chinese Language Conference sponsored by the College Board and Asia Society opened in Chicago. More than 800 educators from throughout the United States took part in the conference under the theme of "Making Connections and Building Partnerships."