On June 2nd 2008, the Commissioner for Multilingualism, Mr. Leonard Orban, and the Vice Minister of Education of China, Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, will officially launch the China-EU Language Exchange Programme, entitled "EU Window".

There will be a launching ceremony on June 2nd 2008 at 5pm at the President's Gallery of the Berlaymont. The "EU Window" is a four-year project (2009-2013) presented on the occasion of the 10th China-EU Summit (November 2007) and sponsored by the Chinese Government. It will provide opportunities for 200 European school teachers of Chinese language as well as 400 school headmasters from Member States to enhance their Chinese proficiency and the understanding of Chinese culture.

"This language exchange programme is an important step both in encouraging language learning and in fostering inter-cultural understanding", said Commissioner Orban.

The first phase of the Programme EU WINDOW will last for two years and will consist of two activities:

• Summer training for 50 Chinese Language teachers from EU member states, This will include the organisation of a conference on languages to be held in Beijing in March 2009 which should coincide with the visit of Commissioner Orban to China. In order to prepare the conference a steering group is being created. It will be made up of Chinese and European language experts.
• A ten day study visit of 100 School Headmasters and Education Administrators from EU member states.

Participants will be responsible for their own international travel expenses with other expenses in China being borne by China.