Foreigners' Chinese skills get new gauge

Nine-level proficiency standard to be implemented globally from July 1

China has issued a Chinese language proficiency standard for international learners to evaluate their Chinese language skills and levels in an all-around way and meet the expanding demand for Chinese language learning.

Issued by the Ministry of Education and the State Language Commission, the Standard for Chinese Proficiency in International Chinese Language Education will be implemented from July 1, the ministry said on Wednesday.

The international Chinese language circle had been calling for a set of norms and standards that were scientific, standardized, inclusive, open and easy to implement, to guide all aspects of Chinese language learning, teaching, testing and evaluation, and to improve the quality of education and teaching results, the ministry said in a news release.