With its open culture and growing economy, China is becoming a popular destination for higher education seekers in Australia. According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, there are 5,000 Australians studying in Chinese universities, up by 83 percent compared with the figure in 2011.

The number of Australian students studying in China has kept growing in recent years, the report said, attributing the change to China’s open society and healthy economy.

“Local Chinese companies are rising, they are becoming more and more competitive. Economic growth, a more service-orientated economy, a more technology-focused economy have all contributed,” Li Haitao, the associate dean of the MBA Program at Beijing’s Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, was quoted as saying.

Though the number of Australian students in China is increasing, it pales comparing with that of Chinese students heading to Australia and non-Australian international students in China.

(Xinhua)