Chinanews, Xi'an, Nov. 13 – Cao Guoxing, a senior official from the Ministry of Education, said that Chinese is becoming an international language, but there are still not enough teachers teaching Chinese abroad. From then on, China will train more teachers and volunteers to teach Chinese in foreign countries. He said these during an education cooperation forum held in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province.

 

Cao said that currently 62 countries and regions have Confucius Institutes that offer Chinese language course for the foreigners. Cao said that China planned to build 500 Confucius Institutes before 2010. “China's growing international influence has attracted more and more people abroad to study Chinese,” he said.

 

China has sent 1,500 teachers and 2,000 volunteers to teach Chinese abroad, and the Office of Chinese Language Council International has planned to provide regular training for Chinese language course teachers.