Iran�s Allameh Tabataba'i University (ATU) and Chinese Beijing International Studies University have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop joint educational and research cooperation.

The agreement was signed on Sunday between Abdullah Motamedi, the president of ATU and secretary of the CPC BISU Committee Chang Yu.

Motamedi and Chang, who was accompanied by a delegation, also met and discussed increased cooperation between the two major universities.

During the meeting, Motamedi pointed to the cooperation between the Chinese embassy and the ATU, saying that a part of the central library and document center of the university has been dedicated to Chinese books needed by professors and students.

Chang, for his part, introduced BISU and its capacities and said that it is one of the most prominent universities in China with a focus on foreign languages, tourism, economy, trade, communication and commerce.

He said 29 languages are taught in BISU, adding that there is a need to exchange professors and students between Iran and China due to the importance of Farsi for the Chinese university.

Earlier in January, Hashem Dadashpour, the Iranian deputy science minister had announced that the number of foreign students will double in Iranian universities by the next three years.

By IRNA