Furthermore, she revealed to China.org.cn that underpinning the excellence of academic research in Scottish institutions, another Scotland-China Higher Education Research Partnership for PhD studies will also be launched in 2009.

Both the Scottish and Chinese governments have agreed to sponsor research collaboration between academics in Scotland and China. The partnership will aim to create and maintain sustainable relationships between Chinese and Scottish higher education institutions or research consortia.

Fiona Hyslop said: "These investments underline our commitment to attracting students from China and building relationships with that country in the longer term. It will also help us achieve our overall vision of a Smarter Scotland – with even better connections to the rest of the world."

"Scotland and China are looking to the future of education, and to the future benefits this will bring to all our people."