Photo via People's Daily

President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Monaco marked the first-ever state visit of a Chinese president to the country. However, cultural ties between the two countries have been long established, with Chinese language becoming a popular skill in Monaco.

At the invitation of Prince Albert II of the Principality of Monaco, President Xi is scheduled to visit the country during his state visits to Italy, Monaco, and France from March 21 to 26.

Chinese language is nothing new to the country. High schools in Monaco started Chinese language training courses a decade ago, and more and more students are studying Chinese nowadays, according to Cedric Bertrand, headmaster of Charles III Middle School.

Student enthusiasm for learning the language is high. President Xi’s visit is expected to promote cooperation between schools in the two countries and create more opportunities for students to communicate with China, Bertrand added.

A student at the middle school, surnamed Vincennes, said she believes that the students should study Chinese, because more and more Chinese can be seen on the streets of Monaco.

Victor Churchill from Albert I High School has studied Chinese for four years, and his whole family are studying the Asian language.

“All five of us are studying Chinese. I heard about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. Our family is very happy,” his mother, who goes by the name of Anna, told reporters.