By Abdullah Al-Ghamdi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The department of education in Riyadh has launched an initiative to teach the Chinese language for both boys and girls in the district clubs and neighborhood centers from March 10 to April 4.

The initiative was launched by the head of the department, Hamad Al-Wihaibi, during a ceremony attended by his assistant Abdullah Al-Ghannam and a number of supervisors, administrators and journalists.

Wihaibi said the sessions were within the strategic vision of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, to include the Chinese language in the school curricula.

Minister of Education Hamad Al-Asheikh welcomed the idea and said in developed countries children are taught two or more languages in addition to mother tongue.

He said the Chinese language was chosen in consideration of China’s economic strength and its strategic partnership with the Kingdom.

Wihaibi said society is prepared to learn Chinese and to introduce it to the Saudi curriculum.

He said a Saudi man holding a bachelor’s degree in Chinese will teach the children because he will be able to deal with them and encourage others to join.