Eleven million university students in China will use textbooks written in the English language within three years, sources told a work conference held recently in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province.

The Ministry of Education requires Chinese universities under its direct administration to use English textbooks in teaching the English language, information technology, biology, finance and law.

Sources said that 5 percent to 10 percent of the university courses will be taught in English within 3 years.

Those universities, which are not currently ready to implement the Ministry's requirement, may phase in the project by first giving lectures using the English textbooks while still using the Chinese language.

The Ministry also called for Chinese textbook writers to compile materials in English so as to better adapt the students to an increasingly globalized environment.

(People's Daily October 22, 2001)