China to support Chinese courses in LatAm, Caribbean

China will offer support for Latin American and Caribbean countries to provide Chinese-language courses for primary and middle school students, and to make Chinese teaching part of their national education system.

The move, aiming to boost exchanges in education, is part of a five-year cooperation plan issued by the first ministerial forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which concluded on Friday.

While China will continue efforts in building Confucius institutes and classrooms in Latin America and Caribbean countries, these nations will also encourage more schools in China to teach students Spanish and English.

Under the plan, in the following five years, the Chinese government will provide 6,000 scholarships to the CELAC. Six thousand people will have the opportunity to get educational training in China and another 400 will be able to study as on-the-job graduates.

Moreover, a 10-year program called "the bridge of future" will be carried out this year, to provide educational training for thousands of CELAC young leaders.