AMMAN, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The fourth China-Arab States University Presidents Forum kicked off in Jordan on Monday, gathering hundreds of presidents, officials and academicians from Arab and Chinese universities to discuss cooperation in the field of higher education. The two-day forum, with the aim of enhancing China-Arab friendship and cooperation, is held at Zarqa University in Zarqa City, 30 km northeast of capital Amman.

Chinese Ambassador to Jordan, Pan Weifang, hailed the friendship between China and Arab countries while addressing the opening ceremony, saying that cooperation in the field of education has become a valuable development opportunity in both governmental and non-governmental exchanges.

Jordan's Higher Education Minister Wajih Owais praised the forum as a way to enhance ties between Arab and Chinese universities as well as bolstering cooperation in various academic fields. Figures show that China has attracted 14,000 students from Arab countries in 2015, while the number of Chinese students in Arab countries has exceeded 3,600.

Moreover, Arabic language is taught at 37 universities in China, and China has launched 11 Confucius Institutes and three Confucius Classrooms in nine Arab countries.

The China-Arab States University Presidents Forum, first held in 2011, has contributed greatly to the promotion of China-Arab exchanges and cooperation in the field of higher education.