China and Austria signed a joint manifesto to enhance higher education cooperation on Friday.

The manifesto aims to increase students and scholar exchange programs, strengthen scientific research collaboration, and promote language learning and joint academic degree recognition.

More than 60 delegates from China, Austria and other European countries discussed the opportunities offered by higher education cooperation in a seminar after the signing ceremony.

The event was organized by China's Ministry of Education and supported by the Austrian Presidency of the European Union, the Delegation of the European Commission in Beijing and Beijing Foreign Studies University.

European Union Ambassador to China Serge Abou told the seminar: "Educational exchange is one of the best and effective ways to consolidate and intensify person-to-person contact."

"Along with various exchanges between colleges, enterprises from both sides should also be active in supporting scientific research," said Education Minister Zhou Ji.

Enterprise is expected to play an important role in financing research and developing it to application level, Zhou said.

Zhou said China will make great efforts to send more students to Europe and plans to launch more joint programs and joint academic degrees.

Elisabeth Gehrer, Austrian Minister for Education, Science and Culture said Austrian educational resources will open to more Chinese scholars.

She said she believes students and scholars' mobility can "boost and upgrade their chances in labor markets."

The visiting minister hopes to promote high-level academic visits by sending college deans and university presidents to each other's countries.

Her proposal was echoed by Zhou, who believes a synergy between the two sides will be greatly increased by a president-level visiting scheme.

China Daily understands that China will promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture in Europe under the framework of the manifesto.

Statistics show that about 130 colleges in 70 countries and regions had developed Chinese language majors by the end of 2005.

(China Daily May 27, 2006)