Centuries-old Yale University in the United States aims to bridge a solid connection with China which is considered to be a 'centerpiece' for its global aspiration.

That is a blue print laid out by Assistant Secretary of Office of International Affaires Wang Fang, who has been working for 20 years at the university which was established in New Haven in America in 1701 when it was still a colony of Briton.

Hailed as one of the Top-Ten universities of the world, Yale is joining hands with China in parts of efforts to make its lasting objective of going global come true.

Numbers tell the story. Three are most international students and scholars from the Chinese mainland at Yale totaling 636 at Yale, according to Wang.

Talking amicably, Wang is desirous to make China an impetus for Yale's ambitious goal of globalization.

"Yale is known for its close connection with China. Its many programs on China, or East Asia in general suit the intellectual and practical interests of Chinese students studying abroad", said Wang.

As Yale enters its fourth century, its goal is to become a truly global university.

"The globalization of the University is in part an evolutionary development," Richard C. Levin, President of Yale University had said.

Yale has succeeded in woo international students, especially mainland Chinese to join in a family who has a three century-long history.

"Yale's need-blind financial aid policy [which means that the university does not consider the financial resources of students from all over the world, but makes sufficient financial aid available in order to cover the costs of a Yale education] is very attractive to Chinese students. This way, financial insufficiency is not a disadvantage for the Chinese applicant. Many Yale students are politically active and engage in lively political debates. They are not just interested in America, they are interested in the world, "said Wang.

A Chinese student can be granted up to 50 thousand U.S. dollars, covering the costs of their living and education.

In a latest effort to strength its connections with China, Yale uploads regularly-updated 45 MP3 files which are lessons from professors onto their web site and allows Chinese students to download the files for free.

Yale and China will see a surge in their ties as Wang will head more than 100 faculty from Yale to China this May in Shanghai to go on a cultural exchange tour. While in July, Wang will cooperate with Beijing Foreign Studies University on education exchange activities.

May trip will be Yale 100 visit to China under the invitation of President Hu Jintao. In July, we will have University Leadership workshop co-organized by Yale and the Ministry of Education. More information will be available later as I'm still working on the detail of the both trips, according to Wang.

In response to a question why China is so important for Yale's globalization aspiration, Wang said from the number of fellowships given for undertaking Chinese language study, internships in China, research project and volunteer work in China, there is no doubt that Yale envisions China as one of the most important geopolitical powers of the 21st century.

Tremendous connections between Yale and China started dating back to the 1880s as Rong Hong, the first Chinese gradated from Yale in 1855.

Rong was one of the 'Chinese kids studying in the U.S.' - an educational program organized by corruption-battered Qing Dyansty (1644-1611). Apart from Rong, Zhan Tianyou, a pilot in China's railway construction history also graduated from the university.

Yale-China ties peaked as Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the university last year while he was in the U.S. to meet with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush.

"President Hu inspired lively discussion on Chinese economy, political system, and cultures at Yale. Many students who were not interested in China before are now considering taking Chinese and going to China", Wang said.

Yale is stretching out its hands to cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai for its influence expansion.

According to Wang, Yale and Peking University has preceded an education exchange program that "Yale and Peking University faculty will teach a varied curriculum entirely in English (except for required Chinese language courses) to Yale students and PKU students. "Three are 60 collaborations between Yale and mainland universities."

Ambitious Yale is extensively involved in international studies, offering over fifty foreign languages and more than 600 courses related to international affairs, according to a written introduction to Yale University.