The Minister for University Affairs has expressed pleasure at the large number of Chinese students coming to study at Thai universities, saying that the government was planning higher educational roadshows for Kunming and Guangzhou in September in a bid to draw in more.

The minister Suwat Liptapanlop said over 2,000 Chinese students are currently based at Thai universities, with over 1,000 of these at Assumption University, or ABAC, in Bangkok, according to a report of the ministry available Tuesday in Bangkok.

The figures emerged as the preliminary results of a survey commissioned from the National Statistical Office to check on the numbers of foreign students studying at Thai universities.

While the government has a policy of encouraging students from abroad to study in Thailand, problems remain over visa requests and educational fees, which is why the government is particularly keen to gather an accurate database.

Suwat said the government was also planning higher education roadshows for the Chinese cities of Kunming and Guangzhou in September, to show the international nature of Thai institutions and the fact that Thailand is a regional education hub, as well as demonstrate the close cultural, economic and social links between the two nations.

The government sees foreign students as a good source of income, and recently urged universities operating international courses in Thailand to upgrade their quality so as to attract greater numbers, he noted.

(People's Daily June 11, 2002)