China's Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, has insisted that the two countries have great potential to cooperate in the area of education.

Speaking at a London event called 'Dialogue with the Ambassador' held by the Chopsticks Club, Zheng addressed around 100 guests from the UK business, education and other sectors.

Answering questions from the club's joint CEO Theresa Booth, Zheng told listeners: "I think basic education in China has a very solid foundation and higher education is making rapid progress."

He added: "Here in the UK, you have a complete education system. That is also probably why you've been able to attract 200,000 Chinese students here to the UK. And I think the UK's higher education system is very strong. You emphasise innovation and your vocational education is versatile and flexible."

Zheng regaled his audience with recollections of the scholarship he received from the Chinese government to study at Cardiff University.

But his main message concerned bilateral educational relations between China and the UK. He said: "There's a vast potential for our two countries to have cooperation. The two countries are well positioned to enhance exchanges, learn from each other, and synergize respective strengths, so as to achieve win-win and common progress."

He called for education authorities and institutions to conduct exchanges and cooperation on three fronts. "First, enhance policy dialogue….second, encourage exchanges between students to cultivate more friendly envoys of the next generation; and third, deepen communication on talent training and teacher exchanges."

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