Children to focus on economic giant China

The programme, organised by the British Council and HSBC, will see 100 youngsters, including a group from Doncaster, learning about Chinese language and culture as part of a so-called “immersion course”.

Martin Davidson, chief executive of the British Council, said when the 10-year-olds enter employment, they will need to be able to compete in a world where links with China are essential.

China overtook Japan to become the world’s second largest economy in February – with projections that the country will take the number one spot in 20 years.

The British Council currently links around 43,000 pupils and teachers in the UK and China in various programmes.

The courses are being funded by the HSBC Global Education Programme, which focuses on disadvantaged children, financial literacy, and environmental education.

The British Council and HSBC have also joined forces to run a number of other programmes that increase understanding of Chinese language and culture in the UK.

These include almost 100 Chinese Language Assistants, who help to teach Mandarin in UK schools, and an annual Chinese Speaking Competition

Mr Davidson, a fluent Chinese speaker, said: “Having a good knowledge of Chinese culture has never been so important.

“With China recently becoming the second biggest economy in the world, our children need to understand China in all its facets if we are to be successful in working together, whether in business or in other ways in the future.

“This course is one of many ways in which the British Council is helping to prepare children in the UK for life in a global society and work in a global economy.”