BEIJING -- State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Sunday urged overseas Chinese language and culture workers to upgrade their education.

Yang made the remarks when meeting with representatives of the third World Chinese Language and Culture Education Conference.

Yang said overseas Chinese language and culture education should be improved to play a greater role in promoting the Chinese culture and the friendship between Chinese people and the people of other nations.

The two-day conference, which opened on Sunday, has been organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council.

It has attracted about 600 representatives from about 50 nations and regions.