A Chinese student consults an educational agent at an international educational fair in Suzhou on March 22, 2014. [Photo/IC] |
The Hurun report says Chinese children sent overseas for studies tend to be younger than their counterparts from other countries. The average age of children of multimillionaires sent abroad for studies is 18 years, and that of billionaires is 16. The most preferred destinations of such students are the United States and the United Kingdom, which together attract more than 50 percent of Chinese students. They are followed by Australia, Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, Singapore, France, Japan and Germany.
Since the samples on which the report is based are not clear, it cannot be said with certainty that it reflects reality.
Because of the many problems that have emerged in the process of China's economic development, from the damage to the environment to frequent food safety scandals, many apparently eye-catching, and even sensationalizing reports has been concocted seemingly to consolidate some people's belief that "the foreign moon is always more round than the Chinese one".
For example, from time to time surveys and studies have been highlighting how many rich Chinese people migrate to other countries every year or plan to do so. With figures that fail to portray the full picture, some of them have created an impression that a majority of Chinese would choose to live abroad if they became rich.
Looking at the latest Hurun report, however, we should neither make a fuss over its so-called findings nor feel excessively concerned even if it reflects the real trend.