A two week training program to help foreign scholars learn more about China has entered its fourth year. Organized by The Chinese Ministry of Culture, "The 2016 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists" kicked off with an official opening ceremony this week in Beijing.

A two week training program to help foreign scholars learn more about China has entered its fourth year.

During the two-week program, 31 Sinologists from 26 countries, including the United States, Australia, Germany and South Africa, will conduct research and study at various institutes in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an. 

The program invites influential figures in China from fields such as economics, culture and literature to deliver speeches to the participants. The roster for this year includes famous Chinese economist Hu Angang, historian Ge Jianxiong and writer and redologist Liu Xinwu. Visits to selected cultural heritage sites of China are also part of the agenda.

Hosted by the China Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the program has been successfully hosted three times since 2014 and has received positive reviews. 

A two week training program to help foreign scholars learn more about China has entered its fourth year.

"I'm so glad to participate in this program. It's a great opportunity for me to better understand Chinese culture from many different aspects. It also offers a chance for me to communicate with other sinologists," said Ke Xiaoman, Sinologist from the Netherlands.

"I came here to learn about translation. I hope that I can meet some Chinese writers and know their works through this program so that I can publish some short novels to let more people know more about Chinese culture through my work," said Lin Diwen, Sinologist from Australia.

The foreign sinologists are between the ages of 25 to 45, and are mostly college teachers and think-tank researchers. A majority of them have a background in Chinese literature, history, philosoply, art, language, politics and international relations.