India today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a leading Chinese university in Shanghai for establishing a Hindi Language Chair at the varsity.
The MoU was signed by Indian envoy to China S Jaishankar and Shanghai International Studies University Executive Vice President Feng Qinghua on October 29 at Shanghai, a release from the Indian Consulate in Shanghai said today.
Peking University and Guangdong Foreign University have similar Chairs to teach Hindi.
Under the terms of the agreement, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in consultation with SISU shall appoint a Hindi Language professor to teach the language to Chinese and international students at the Shanghai International Studies University.
The Hindi language Chair would be a long term Chair wherein the incoming professor would teach students as well as conduct research for a period of two years.
The first course on Hindi language at SISU is expected to commence from September 2013, the release said.
Education has been identified as an important area of cooperation between India and China.
This MoU is a very significant step in facilitating enhanced communication and familiarisation with Indian culture to Chinese and international students, it said.
Establishment of this Chair at SISU is in keeping with the objective of fostering greater educational and academic interaction as well as creating awareness about Indian civilisation, it said.