The number of Chinese mainland students going to study in the
United States hit a record high this year, up 40 percent from last
year and double the figure in 2004, the US embassy said
yesterday.
About 51,500 student and exchange visitor visas have been issued
to mainland Chinese so far this year, Michael Regan, US consul
general in China, told a press conference, adding that the approval
rate is about 80 percent.
Diane Sovereign, assistant press officer of the US embassy, said
the increase reflects Chinese students' growing interest to study
in the United States as well as the rising visa approval rate.
Ministry of Education spokesman Wang Xuming said he welcomed the
trend "that is conducive to the promotion of international student
exchanges".
After India, the Chinese mainland is the second largest source
of overseas students for US universities. Frank Mok, an official
with the American Center for Educational Exchange, said he is
optimistic that more student visas will be issued next year.
(China Daily November 22, 2007)