More studying abroad in Belt, Road countries

A growing number of Chinese students are choosing to study in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, the Ministry of Education said on Friday.

Some 66,100 Chinese students studied in Belt and Road countries in 2017, up 15.7 percent from 2016, with 3,679 sponsored by the Chinese government, according to a statement on the ministry's website.

China had signed 45 agreements on educational cooperation with those countries by April 2017. Diplomas issued by Chinese universities and the higher education institutions in 24 of the countries were mutually recognized as of March last year, according to the ministry.