The Sino-Dutch educational cooperation and exchange in 2001 has been progressing steadily and rapidly. China stands out as one of the three major priority countries across the world on the agenda of Dutch educational international cooperation strategy.

　　In February, Mr. L.M.L.H.A. Hermans, Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands, and his delegation paid an official visit to the People's Republic of China. During this successful visit, Mme Chen Zhili, Chinese Minister of Education, met with Mr. L.M.L.H.A. Hermans and his delegation. Among various fruitful results, a "Summary of Meeting between the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science on Scientific and Educational Cooperation" was jointly signed by the two ministers. The main contents of the meeting summary includes "DELTA Scholarship Programme and Programme of Strategic Scientific Alliances".  Under the DELTA Scholarship Programme, students from the major priority countries will have the opportunity to study in the Netherlands; and in the Programme of Strategic Scientific Alliances, the Chinese Ministry of Education will coordinate Chinese research institutes in higher educational institutions to participate in the programme. During the period of his Excellency's visit in China, officials of 27 Dutch universities and colleges went to China to attend Beijing International Higher Education Exhibition. A Symposium on Sino-Dutch Collegiate Cooperation and Exchange was also held at the same time. 41 Chinese prestigious universities, including Tsinghua University, were present at the symposium.

　　Till the end of 2001, Chinese students studying in the Netherlands amounted to 1,500, a 50 percent increment compared to that of last year. Of the total Chinese students, a 100 percent increase of self-sponsored students is observed and they account for three fourths of the total 1,500. All this has definitely indicated that the educational cooperation between China and the Netherlands has gained unprecedented momentum in the year of 2001.