20,000 Chinese language schools worldwide

Millions of Chinese living in different parts of the world are spreading their languages all around, according to a senior Chinese official, adding there are nearly 20,000 Chinese language schools across the world, educating millions of students.

Speaking at a ceremony held to welcome 4,000 young Chinese who were born overseas and visiting Beijing to get in touch with their roots, Qiu Yuanping, head of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council said there are over 100,000 teachers in these schools, the China Daily reported.

Stating that there were 50 million overseas Chinese spread over 170 countries and regions, Qiu said, it was they who have helped to establish Chinese language schools and carried Chinese culture forward.

Chinese has become the second-most used language in the world and the office will invest more to support Chinese language education, the official said.