Top officials go back to school for English

SHANGHAI - More senior officials in the city have joined English training courses after the successful experience of last year.

On Friday, 30 senior officials, most of them deputy heads of districts or deputy bureau chiefs, started their English courses. They are the second batch of trainees in an eight-year English-training program for government officials.

The program, initiated by the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee's organization department in 2010, aims to help local officials adapt to the city's goal of joining international metropolises by improving their ability to communicate internationally.