RIYADH — Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University (PNU) signed a contract with Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) to launch “Diploma in Business Chinese Language” program. PNU was represented by its President Dr. Inas Bint Sulaiman Al-Essa in signing the contract, while BLCU was represented by its President Dr. Liu Li, during a virtual ceremony held on Wednesday. PNU, the world’s largest women’s university, is the first Saudi university to include the Chinese language in its educational curricula. The BLCU specializes in teaching the Chinese language and culture to foreign students. The partnership seeks to enhance educational exchange and transfer of knowledge between the Kingdom and China. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Fahd Al-Shareef, cultural attache at the Saudi embassy in China, Dr. Saleh Al-Qassoumi, deputy minister of education for international cooperation, PNU Vice President for Educational Affairs Dr. Nawal Al-Rasheed, Vice President for Academic Support and Student Service Dr. Amal Al-Habdan, Dean of Community Service and Continuing Education Dr. Latifa Al-Faryan, and Supervisor of the Department of Strategic Partnerships Dr. Hodail Al-Saleh. The signing of the contract was part of the broader promotion of educational exchanges between the two countries to build long-lasting relations between the PNU and BLCU and to implement a cooperative educational project benefitting PNU’s students. Al-Shareef stressed the importance of this unique partnership as it will be instrumental in implementing a quality Chinese academic program in the Kingdom through PNU. The comprehensive program, which will be a two-year course under the supervision of the Deanship of Community Services and Continuing Education at PNU, will look to draw on BLCU’s extensive experience since it is considered one of the best universities in the world for teaching Chinese and is one of the universities recommended by the Saudi Ministry of Education.