The Western Returned Scholars Foundation, a national public foundation based in Beijing, together with Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (Group), established an innovative talent cultivation base in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in an effort to cultivate more international talents in China.

It was initially established one year after the launch of the innovative talent cultivation program. Specifically, both parties will deepen cooperation in programs such as computer science, learning ability enhancement, cross-disciplinary art lab, and family education, to stimulate students' potential and innovative consciousness, and cultivate top-notch innovative talents in the country.

Mo Wenxiu, legal representative of WRSF, also a member of the 12th National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that the foundation aims at helping students strengthen personal qualities, emphasize collaborative abilities, broaden international perspectives, and highlight practical innovation, so as to continuously cultivate top-notch innovative talents with strong patriotism and broad international perspectives.

Xie Zhiguang, vice-principal of Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (Group), said: "In today's world where competition is fierce, the demand for top-notch innovative talents is more urgent than ever before."

According to Xie, during the past year, thanks to the program, 35 students from three academies in the school were either recommended for admission or admitted to Tsinghua University and Peking University, two of the top Chinese higher education institutions. Meanwhile, nearly 10 percent of students from the Academy of International Programs in Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (Group) were admitted to Ivy League schools in the United States. Students have also won awards in singing, drama, fencing, rhythmic gymnastics and badminton.

zhengyiran@chinadaily.com.cn