US university disqualified

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-09 07:51

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) has disqualified an American university from hosting training courses paid for by the Chinese government.

It said in a statement on its website that Northwestern Polytechnic University, based in Fremont, California, provided an "incorrect schedule" in an application for a visit by officials from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.

The application said the officials would take part in a five-day training course in February to "learn about government administration and assistance to local companies". The SAFEA said the training lasted only three days and instead of visiting three cities, officials toured eight cities, including Las Vegas.

The SAFEA, in charge of approving applications for local government officials' overseas visits, has also ordered all groups scheduled for trips to Northwestern Polytechnic University to change the host institution.

According to news reports, the 21-day trip by 23 Wenzhou officials cost about 650,000 yuan ($95,500). Chinese netizens have expressed outrage over the sightseeing tours paid for with taxpayer money; and the officials have been censured.