BEIJING, Dec. 13 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for more efforts in government work on overseas studies to cultivate talent in the drive to achieve national rejuvenation.

Xi gave the written instruction to a conference on promoting work on Chinese students studying overseas and foreigners receiving education in China. The conference was held on Dec. 12 and 13 in Beijing.

Xi said he hoped Chinese overseas students could open their eyes to the world and study hard to contribute wisdom to the country.

China has sent more than 3 million students to study abroad since 1978 when the country started reforms and opening-up. Destinations of their studies have been expanded from only a few countries such as the United States and Japan to more than 100 countries in 2013.

About 360,000 international students from more than 200 countries and regions are studying in China.

Premier Li Keqiang also encouraged promoting overseas education.

Chinese overseas students should work hard to master advanced knowledge and technology. The government should also improve service to foreign students in China to enhance international friendship and exchange, Li said.

He instructed the government to provide a sound environment for returned overseas students so they can become a new force in business and innovation.

More than 80 percent of China's academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering have studied overseas, said Cen Jianjun, who was in charge of international cooperation and exchanges under the Ministry of Education.

More than 700 universities and colleges are receiving international students who are majoring in almost all the subjects, he said.

China has also set up mechanisms for cultural and people-to-people exchanges with the United States, Russia, Britain, Europe and France, which have promoted China's overseas education, he said.