The Chinese government provided 800 million yuan ($117 million) in scholarships to international students this year, and provincial governments offered about 110 million yuan. The government published the National Outline for Medium- and Long-Term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020) on July 29, which included expanding international cooperation and higher-education exchanges. The number of international students in China has risen dramatically, hitting a record high last year of 240,000, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education in September. The students were from 190 countries and regions around the world, which is a stark contrast to 60 years ago when China had fewer than 20 international students from three countries in Eastern Europe.