China President's Initiatives Spur Plan For New Scholarship

By Zhao Xinying (China Daily)
Updated: 2015-03-25 07:45

A university student from Pakistan (C) discusses with classmates at Northwest Polytechnical University in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Dec 10, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

China plans to set up a scholarship designed exclusively for students coming to study in the country from nations involved in Beijing's initiatives to build a Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

An official from the Ministry of Education confirmed the "One Belt and One Road" scholarship plan on Tuesday.

"We are negotiating with the Ministry of Finance on establishing scholarship programs under the (One Belt and One Road) plan to provide more support to students from those countries," said Tian Lulu.

Tian, an official in the Education Ministry's Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, was speaking at an international forum on studying in China, held in Beijing.

The forum, which was organized by the China Education Association for International Exchanges, discussed issues such as policies, problems and solutions in recruiting and managing international students.

Tian said they are working on the design of the scholarship programs, but she declined to provide more details. She said the ministry had noticed that the major sources of international students in China are changing, and it will draw up new policies as a result.

President's initiatives spur plan for new scholarship

"The number of students from some countries, such as South Korea, Japan and the United States, remains stable or has started to drop. But some neighboring countries, including India and Pakistan, are becoming emerging sources for international students in China," Tian said.

According to the Education Ministry, Pakistan, with 13,360 students coming to study last year, was the eighth-largest source of international students in China, compared with the 10th largest in 2013, when President Xi Jinping announced the "One Belt and One Road" plan.

The number of students coming to study in China from India rose from 11,781 in 2013 to 13,578 last year, making India the seventh-largest source of China's international students.

Tian said, "Against such a backdrop, we are considering providing more preferential policies to some border provinces and regions to help schools and other educational institutions recruit and accept more students from neighboring countries."

Chen Zhiwen, editor-in-chief of eol.cn, China's largest education portal, said, "Economic factors play a key role in attracting international students.

"With the implementation of the One Belt and One Road plan, a further increase in the number of students from countries involved in the plan can be expected."

Source - China Daily

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Shenzhen Guangzhou And Nanjing Are The "Cities of Opportunity" In China

Shenzhen ranks as the top regional Chinese city according to a new joint report released by PwC China and the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), followed by Guangzhou and Nanjing.

The Chinese "Cities of Opportunity 2015" report measures the development status and overall strength of tier one and tier two Chinese cities based on a number of factors such as technology readiness, economic influence, ease of doing business and sustainable development and environment.

Shenzhen ranks in first place due to top scores on technology readiness, economic clout, ease of doing business, sustainability and natural environment and its importance as a regional city. Guangzhou tops the list for intellectual capital and innovation, and is joint top with Harbin for culture and local lifestyle. Nanjing ranks in the top five cities for intellectual capital and innovation, technology readiness, traffic and city planning and cost.

"Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Nanjing are truly 'Cities of Opportunity' in China. They are filled with opportunities and have laid a solid foundation in innovation, technology and sustainable development to achieve long-term growth in the ‘new normal’ economy,” says David Wu, PwC China Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Leader.

“However to strike the right balance between economic development and cost as a city grows is something that Chinese cities must address to promote further development. Shenzhen and Guangzhou had the lowest scores in the 'Cost' indicator, while Nanjing provides a good reference for solving this issue with its excellent performance in 'Cost'.”

The study found that China faces challenges fostering balanced and coordinated development across regions. Cities in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta generally rank higher than cities in the northeastern and western interior provinces.

In addition, although Nanning, the Chinese city with the closest cultural and economic ties with ASEAN countries, Urumqi and Lanzhou enjoy great development potential as strategically important cities in implementing the "One Belt, One Road" policy, they had relatively lower rankings.

"The Chinese government has already drawn up a series of policies to promote coordinated economic development across regions. The implementation of strategies like 'Going West', 'Revitalising Northeast China' and 'One Belt, One Road' shows its determination and provides development opportunities for cities in these regions,” says Wu.

“China’s urbanization is not only shaping its future, but also has a profound impact on global development patterns. China’s economy has started its shift to a ‘new normal’ state. Including the word ‘opportunity’ in the title of this series of studies is not only a recognition of the “new normal’s” great challenges and uncertainties, but also an acknowledgement of the key opportunities and potential arising from deep economic and social transformation,” says Lu Mai, Secretary General of the China Development Research Foundation.

“The ‘new normal’ economic state provides new guidelines to China’s urbanisation. Through cooperation with the China Development Research Foundation, we hope we can provide valuable insight for governance and development,” says Frank Lyn, PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong Markets Leader.

The top five cities for each of the 10 indicators in the ‘Cities of Opportunity 2015’ report are as follows :

1. Intellectual Capital and Innovation – Guangzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Shenzhen

2. Important Cities – Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan

3. Technology Readiness – Shenzhen, Hangzhou/Guangzhou, Nanjing, Xiamen

4. Healthcare, Safety and Public Security – Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou/Guangzhou*, Nanjing

5. Traffic and City Planning – Shenyang, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing

6. Sustainable Development and the Environment – Shenzhen, Qingdao, Guangzhou/Nanjing*, Xiamen

7. Culture and Local Lifestyle – Guangzhou/Harbin*, Lanzhou, Shenzhen, Changchun

8. Economic Influence – Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Hangzhou

9. Ease of Doing Business – Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Tianjin/Qingdao

10. Cost – Shenyang, Urumqi, Nanjing, Changchun, Qingdao

Source - CFO Innovation Asia 

Related post - Explore China - Top Ten Cities of Opportunity in China

Explore China - Top Ten Cities of Opportunity in China

Shenzhen leads the way in terms of future development opportunities in China, according to a report by global consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

Jointly released by PwC China and the China Development Research Foundation, the report studied the development of 20 Chinese cities on the basis of 10 indicators, including technology readiness, sustainable development and economic influence.

Beijing and Shanghai were excluded as they are recognized as world-level cities, according to the report.

Let's take a look at the top 10 Chinese cities with the best chances of growth in the future.

No 1 Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province

A sports center in Shenzhen Bay [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

No 2 Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province

The TV Tower near Guangzhou's Pearl River [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

No 3 Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province

A 3D street painting at Nanjing's Communication University of China, June 11, 2014. [Photo/IC]

No 4 Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province

Spring cherry blossom attracts visitors to Wuhan University, March 21, 2015.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

No 5 Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province

West Lake is a major tourist attraction in Hangzhou. Photo taken in 2005.[Photo/Asianewsphoto]

No 6 Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province

People gather around a fountain show in Tianfu Square, Chengdu in 2007.[Photo/Asianewsphoto]

No 7 Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province

Night view of a landmark building in Xi'an, March 29, 2014. [Photo/IC]

No 8 Tianjin municipality, North China

The memorial gateway "Jin Men Gu Li" in Tianjin, Dec 10, 2014. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

No 9 Xiamen, East China's Fujian province

A Boeing 787 at an airport in Xiamen, Sept 1, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

No 10 Qingdao, East China's Shandong province

A container ship berths at a quay in the Port of Qingdao on July 8, 2014. [Photo/IC]

Source - china daily

Related Post - Shenzhen Guangzhou And Nanjing Are The "Cities of Opportunity" In China

Australian University Signs Landmark Research Cooperation With Chinese Universities

PUBLIC RELEASE: 23-MAR-2015
QUT first Australian university to sign research deal with China's largest province

QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake today signed a landmark Agreement on Research Collaboration with China's Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the first of its kind by an Australian university.

The agreement was initiated by His Excellency Governor Zhu Xiaodan, Governor of Guangdong Province following his visit to QUT during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane last year.

Professor Coaldrake said the Agreement was a platform for the development of joint research in three areas: air quality; tissue engineering and regenerative medicine; and public health.

"This is a further opportunity for researchers in QUT and our partner institutions in China to deepen our research links, work together on joint publications and joint applications for funding at the Provincial and national levels," Professor Coaldrake said.

"QUT is a partner with a number of Chinese universities in the Australia-China Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine and we have many other research ties.

"Guangdong is a province of 100 million people which includes the cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and it's a powerhouse of research and commercialisation. The new Agreement will enhance the very strong links with Guangdong, and China generally."

QUT and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies have had student exchange agreements in place since 2011 while QUT has also offered expertise to the Guangdong Education Department for a teacher training program that has seen a group of principals visit QUT.

Other university partners for QUT in the Guangdong Province include:

• South China University of Technology
• Guangzhou Medical University (mainly in nursing and coursework cooperation)
• Guangdong Medical College
• Southern Medical University

Source - eurek alert

South China University of Technology

Guangzhou Medical University

Quick Link - All You Need To Know About Further Education In China

More Overseas Students Chose China in 2014

Foreign students make dumplings with Chinese teachers to celebrate
Spring Festival at Tianjin University on Feb 17, 2015.[Xinhua]

More than 375,000 students arrived on the Chinese mainland from around the world for studies last year, a 5.77 percent increase over 2013, the Ministry of Education said on 19th March 2015.

The 377,054 students came from 203 countries and regions, according to figures released by the ministry.

The numbers coming from Oceania and Africa last year increased dramatically, but those coming from the Americas fell a little.

A total of 6,272 students came from Oceania, a 32.24 percent increase year-on-year, while the number of those from Africa - 41,677 - rose by 24.93 percent from 2013. The numbers coming from the Americas dropped by 2.45 percent, but the ministry did not give a reason for this.

Some students said they came to study in China because they were attracted by the country's political and economic development.

James Mwita, 30, from Kenya, said: "China has a system that is working, and its political system is efficient. Its economic and social developments are impressive, and I hope my country can emulate them."

Many international students also said they decided to study in China because of the significant amount of financial support from the Chinese authorities and universities.

Asheida Charles, 29, from the Caribbean nation of Grenada is one example. Charles, who arrived in September, is studying international communication at Communication University of China.

"I chose China because of the attractive scholarship package offered to international students," she said. "The quality of education is also impressive."

But a survey by the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing think tank, shows that international students make up less than 1 percent of the students at Chinese colleges and universities.

Chen Zhiwen, chief editor of eol.cn, China's largest education portal, said African and Oceanian students' interest in China began late, leading to an apparent increase in students from the two regions coming to study in the country in recent years.

"On the other hand, the number of students from the Americas, especially from the US, has continued to grow for quite a few years."

(Source: China Daily)

Back home in Malaysia, students preferred to further education in China has been on the uptrend in line with worldwide international students mobility. Statistics released by China Embassy of Malaysia revealed a total of 6,751 students were studying in China in 2014, an increase of 10.2 percent compared with a total students of 6,126 in 2013. In 2012, the number of students studying in China were 6,045 and 4,388 in 2011. Figure released also shown some 283 Malaysian students were on China government scholarship to study in China for the 2014/2015 academic year.

Why Malaysia students choose to study in China? Read the education report "Eye on China" published by The News Sunday Times on 08 March 2015 the reasons behind the increase of Malaysian students studied in China.

More stories about foreign students in China:

1. China focuses on regional students as inbound enrollments up 
2. More Malaysians Are Heading to China to Further Their Education
3. Malaysian Students in China  

4. Malaysian Students Second Year Into MBBS Degree at Wuhan University in China  

5. Indian Students in "China Rush"
6. Chinese Colleges Reach Out to ASEAN countries

Engineering in China - Maglev Hover Car

BEIJING, China – Volkswagen’s People’s Car Project launched has led to creation of a “Hover Car” that floats above the road using electromagnetic levitation.

The project allowed Internet users in China to post their ideas about cars of the future. From the more than 119,000 ideas submitted by 33 million visitors to the People’s Car Project website over the past 11 months, the German automaker selected three to develop and build as concept vehicles.

The “Hover Car,” the “Music Car” and the “Smart Key” were unveiled last month at the Beijing International Auto Show. The zero-emissions two-seater Hover Car looks like a shiny flying donut as it hovers just above the ground, moving forward or backward, left or right.

The Hover Car could in the future travel along electromagnetic road networks. The same method of propulsion is already used by maglev trains in China, Japan, Germany, California and elsewhere.


Video shows a levitating car developed by Volkswagen in China

The Hover Car concept was submitted by Wang Jia from Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

“The creative ideas from the People’s Car Project give us a valuable insight into the wishes of Chinese drivers,” said Simon Loasby, head of design at Volkswagen Group China.

“The trend is towards safe cars that can easily navigate overcrowded roads and have a personal, emotional and exciting design,” he said. The music car expresses the wish of many Chinese for individual automotive design. Equipped with organic light emitting diodes, the exterior color of the vehicle changes with the driver’s choice of music. The car becomes a means of self-expression and a fashion statement for young drivers.

The Smart Key, also developed under the People’s Car Project, takes up the trend towards the stronger integration of online technologies in vehicles.

This vehicle has a high-resolution touchscreen that keeps the driver up to date on the fuel situation, climate conditions and the car’s security via the 3G network. The driver can monitor the vehicle from a bird’s eye perspective through real-time satellite transmission. “The People’s Car Project in China marks the beginning of a new era in automobile design,” commented Luca de Meo, director of marketing, Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen passenger cars brand.

“We are no longer just building cars for, but also with customers and at the same time initiating a national dialog which gives us a deep insight into the design preferences, needs and requirements of Chinese customers,” de Meo said.

Due to high demand and “the exceptionally good quality of the contributions,” Volkswagen says the People’s Car Project, which was originally scheduled to run for one year, has been extended indefinitely.

Volkswagen says a new project phase will be launched in the coming months. At that time, users will be able to submit their design, personalization and connectivity ideas for future mobility, and will also be able to contribute suggestions about the environment. First, the drafts will be evaluated by the entire user community. In a second step, experts will assess the concepts and award prizes to the winners.

“In a long-term context the findings of the People’s Car Project will influence Volkswagen’s product strategy,” de Meo explained.

“The design of our models will, however, continue to reflect the tradition of the Volkswagen brand,” said de Meo. “If at some time in the future we are to produce a vehicle from the People’s Car Project, it will be a combination of customers’ opinions and brand tradition.”

Source - environment news services

Link - English-medium Engineering Degree Courses in China

China's Female Fighter Pilots Perform Abroad For The First Time in Malaysia

Pilots Yu Xu, Tao Jiali, Sheng Yifei and He Xiaoli, with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force acrobatic team, perform at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in J-10 fighter jets on March 17, 2015. It is the first time that China's female fighter pilots have performed abroad in Malaysia.

Four female fighter pilots from China pose for photos in Langkawi, Malaysia on Mar 17, 2015

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (right) shakes hands with Chinese female pilots

Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs in LIMA, Langkawi Malaysia

Fighter pilot Yu Xu (first on right) is ready to perform missions in LIMA

Fighter pilot Yu Xu (middle) is ready to perform missions in LIMA

Eight fighter pilots from China are ready to perform missions in LIMA

Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs in LIMA

Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs in LIMA

Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs in LIMA

Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs in LIMA

Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs in LIMA

Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs in LIMA

(Xinhua/Zhang Wenzong)

Source - people daily online

Related video link - China's first female J-10 pilots make overseas debut

More about Aeronautical and Astronautical in China :

1. English Medium Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Degrees in China Universities

2. Engineering in China - You may fly on a Made-in-China aircraft sooner than you think

Explore China - First-pickings of Longjing Tea Begins

Longjing tea (龙井茶) sometimes called by its literal translated name Dragon Well tea, is a variety of pan-roasted green tea from the area of Longjing Village near Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, China. It is produced mostly by hand and renowned for its high quality, earning it the title "Famous Tea of China".

As the weather turned warmer in Hangzhou, farmers began to harvest China’s famous West Lake Longjing tea this week.

The premium early season first-picking known as Ming Qian or Pre-Qingming (or Before Ching Ming) Longjing tea requires it to be produced from the first spring shoots prior to the Qingming Festival on the 5th of April each year (approximately). The production cycle is very short, usually only ten days before Qingming every year. Tea picked after this period is of a lower grade called Yuqian Longjing (雨前龍井), or "Dragon Well Before the Rain"

Like most other Chinese green tea, Longjing tea leaves are roasted early in processing (after picking) to stop the natural oxidation ("fermentation") process, which is a part of creating black and oolong teas. The actions of these enzymes is stopped by "firing" (heating in pans) or by steaming the leaves before they completely dry out.

Stir frying Xi Hu Longjing

Ming Qian Longjing Tea Leaves

The Legends of Longjing

Longjing tea was granted the status of Gong Cha, or Imperial tea, in Qing Dynasty by Chinese emperor Kangxi. According to the legend, Kangxi's grandson Qianlong visited West Lake during one of his famous holidays.

He went to the Hu Gong Temple under the Lion Peak Mountain (Shi Feng Shan) and was presented with a cup of Longjing tea. In front of the Hu Gong Temple were 18 tea bushes. Emperor Qianlong was so impressed by the Longjing tea produced here that he conferred these 18 tea bushes special imperial status. The trees are still living and the tea they produce is auctioned annually for more money per gram than gold.

There is another legend connecting Emperor Qianlong to Longjing Tea. It is said that while visiting the temple he was watching the ladies picking the tea. He was so enamored with their movements that he decided to try it himself. While picking tea he received a message that his mother, the Empress Dowager was ill and wished his immediate return to Beijing. He shoved the leaves he had picked into his sleeve and immediately left for Beijing. Upon his return he immediately went to visit his mother. She noticed the smell of the leaves coming from his sleeves and he immediately had it brewed for her. It is said that the shape of Longjing Tea was designed to mimic the appearance of the flattened leaves that the emperor brewed for his mother.

Longjing, which literally translates as "dragon well," is said to have named after a well that contains relatively dense water, and after rain the lighter rainwater floating on its surface sometimes exhibits a sinuous and twisting boundary with the well water, which is supposed to resemble the movement of a Chinese dragon.

Legend also has it that to achieve the best taste from Longjing, water from the Dreaming of the Tiger Spring, a famous spring in Hangzhou, is to be used. The water quality of the spring now is certainly very different than before. The tea takes its name from the eponymous "Dragon Well" located near Longjing village.

Source - Wikipeida and photos - cctv news


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Explore China - Spring Around China

1. Spring Arrives in Lhasa

Lhasa, the capital of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, is thriving with lovely flowers in bloom as spring approaches, March 17, 2015.











(Photos : China News Service/Li Lin)


2. Colorful Yunnan In Spring

Photos taken in early this spring shows the scenery of terraced fields in Yuanyang County, southwest China's Yunan Province. (Photo/Chinapic. people.com.cn)

Below photos show the beautiful scenery of the countryside in early spring in southwest China's Yunan Province. (Photo/Chinapic. people.com.cn)





Below photos show the scenery of Yuanmou Earth Forest in Yuanmou County, southwest China's Yunan Province. (Photo/Chinapic. people.com.cn)









Below photo shows the beautiful scenery of the countryside in early spring in southwest China's Yunan Province. (Photo/Chinapic. people.com.cn)

3. Kunming - Spring Is In The Air

Spring is in the air as the temperature of Kunming gets warmer and flowers enter the bloom season recently. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang)

Tourists enjoy spring scenery in Yuantong Park of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province

Tourists enjoy the game of flying chair in Yuantong Park of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province

A swan rests in Yuantong Park of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province

Tourists enjoy cherry blossom scenery in Yuantong Park of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province

Tourists enjoy cherry blossom scenery in Yuantong Park of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province

4. Visitors Crowd University to View Cherry blossom

Thousands of cherry blossom lovers crowd a 200-meter-long path at Wuhan University in Hubei province on Saturday, turning the usually quiet campus into a crowded park. It was estimated that more than 100,000 visitors made their way to the annual event, March 21 2015.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

A couple from Zhejiang University shares a kiss in front of the romantic blossom. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Tourists take selfies at the campus. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A girl smells the blossom as she poses for photos. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Visitors add bubbles to the blossom. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Cherry trees in full bloom at Wuhan University. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Two girls share a selfie with cherry trees as a backdrop. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Visitors take photos at the university grounds. [Photo/Chinanews.com

5. The Arrival of Farming Season!

As the farming season comes, farmers are busy with spring ploughing. (Xinhua/Yang Fengsheng)

A farmer plants tobacco seedlings in the field in Beihua Village of Luocheng County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

A farmer plows the field in Xinxi Township of Xinyu City, east China's Jiangxi Province

A farmer splashes fertilizer in the field in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province

Farmers work in the field in Guanchang Village of Jiujiang County, east China's Jiangxi Province

Farmers work in the field in Guanchang Village of Jiujiang County, east China's Jiangxi Province

Source - people daily online / china daily


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