BEIJING: Malaysia and China are to sign a Mutual Recognition Agreement on higher education that will become a catalyst in increasing student exchange between the two countries, said Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Iskandar Sarudin.

He added that ministry officers of both countries had recently discussed the proposal, which was expected to be finalised soon.

"Both countries had agreed to the proposed matter during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's visit to China in 2009 and the Chinese premier Hu Jintao's visit to Malaysia later," he told reporters here Sunday night.

He added that issues related the proposal had been ironed out and the agreement was just waiting to be signed.

According to Iskandar, there are currently 2,252 self-sponsored Malaysian students pursuing their higher education in China, including 152 in Beijing, Shanghai (346), Guangdong (402) and Yunnan (7).

He added that there were also 119 students learning the Chinese language at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), comprising 84 students under the Education Ministry and 35 under MARA scholarship.

As at 2010, 10,214 students from China are pursuing their studies in various fields of studies at higher learning institutions in Malaysia, including business, hospitality, computer science, information technology, design and architecture.

Iskandar Sarudin said the exchange of Notes of Agreement between Malaysia and China on the partial abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official or service passports would be effective one month after this was signed. - Bernama

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