Growing interest in Chinese language highlights teacher shortage in Egypt

Contestants take part in a Chinese poetry recitation contest, Nov 14, 2015.  [Photo/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"China is more and more exposed to the public in Egyptian media and media of other Middle Eastern countries as the bilateral trade of China and Egypt continues to increase. This increased Egyptians' interest and passion in learning Chinese," said Liu Xing, a Chinese professor of North China Institute of Science and Technology who currently works in the Chinese department of Cairo University.

The bilateral trade between China and Egypt has reached a historical high of $11.6 billion and China's non-financial direct investment to Egypt was $ 100 million, increasing 86 percent year on year, in 2014. China has been Egypt's biggest trade partner and an important country for Egypt to attract foreign investment.

Chinese major students could more easily find a job than students of other language majors, he adds.

Liu said some of his students told him the Quran asks Muslims to learn from the east and this also explains Egyptians' passion for Chinese.