Min Weifang, an official of Peking University, said that with China's development in recent years, more foreign students were coming to China to study Chinese language and culture.

He said that the main task of the college was to provide basic Chinese language education to foreign students at the university, in a bid to help them continue with further study in different departments.

The college would also train high-level Chinese language personnel to meet exchange demands in international politics, economics and culture.

Peking University will also open overseas Chinese language teaching bases.

The college developed from Peking University Chinese Language Center, which has already trained students from over 30 countries and regions.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2002)