Nine Chinese teachers will leave for Britain at the end of August to start a one-year teacher  exchange program, during which time 30 British teachers will be  teaching in China, Tuesday's China Daily reports.

   The Chinese group were sponsored by a three-year agreement  reached between the Culture and Education Section of the British  Consulate-general in Shanghai, and the Shanghai Municipal  Education Commission in June.

   "There is a growing demand for education about China, both in  language and culture," the report quotes Richard Everitt, consul  of the education section, as saying.

   In many schools in Britain, Chinese language has become a  compulsory subject, and teachers are expected to teach not just  the language, but also Chinese traditional arts, such as music,  painting, calligraphy and martial arts, Everitt was quoted as  saying.

   "It is a good opportunity to learn different teaching systems  and methods from a British school," the report also quotes Ni  Minxue, a teacher from Shanghai High School, who will teach in a  technological college in Britain.

   "Besides language teaching, we teachers will act as cultural  ambassadors, to satisfy British students' curiosity about China,"  Ni was quoted as saying.

   According to Everitt, more teachers will be able to apply for  the exchange and the agreement is sure to benefit both countries.