Saudi Arabia to expand teaching Chinese language
Cairo: Saudi Arabia aims to increase Chinese language instruction in light of its strong ties to Beijing and the Arab world.
In the course of his official visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed before departing the country on Saturday.
Xi also participated in summits with other Arab leaders and the heads of the Gulf Cooperation Council, promising to strengthen ties between China and the Arab world.
In Riyadh, Xi announced that his nation would provide the Gulf nations with thousands of opportunities to learn the Chinese language.
Chinese language instruction has already begun in several public and private schools, according to Ohud Al Fares, the Saudi Education Ministry’s Undersecretary for Public Education.
“The Chinese language is one of the important world languages,” she told Saudi TV Al Ekhbariya.
“It is taught with the aim of enabling students to gain the necessary skills. Teaching the Chinese language will be expanded as part of optional curricula,” she added.
Saudi Arabia to expand teaching Chinese language
Chinese language instruction began in eight high schools in Saudi Arabia in 2020 as part of efforts to strengthen connections between the two countries.
A plan to integrate Chinese into the curricula of Saudi Arabian schools and colleges was agreed upon during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s earlier that year visit to China.
