Chinese varsities to roll out Urdu, Farsi language in curriculum

As a part of the cultural exchange between Pakistan and China, two universities in China's Xinjiang region are introducing Urdu and Farsi (Persian) to their undergraduate curriculum.

Shihezi University and Xinjiang Normal University, based in Urumqi, are also establishing Urdu and Farsi departments, respectively.

Nationwide enrollment of students shall commence this summer, according to a Shihezi University statement released on Monday.

While Urdu is the official language of Pakistan, Farsi is the official language in Iran and Tajikistan, and is widely spoken in Afghanistan.

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At the moment, only six higher education institutions in China offer Farsi as a major, producing less than 500 people proficient in the language.

Xinjiang's increasing cooperation in trade and counter-terrorism with Urdu and Farsi-speaking countries requires advanced language learners, the communique added.