More students choose EU over US

The European Union leads the United States as a destination for Chinese students, a senior EU official said yesterday in Beijing.

Last year 120,000 Chinese students studied in EU countries, a record number; and more Chinese students study in Europe than any other destination in the world, said Jan Figel, the European Commissioner for Education, Training and Youth.

"When people speak of education, especially higher education, they often think of the US. But actually, universities in the EU are, overall, the most attractive because they have a diversity of cultures and teaching methods," Figel said.