The number of Portuguese language courses in universities in Mainland China has been increasing in the last three years. The trend is partly linked to the economic growth of Brazil and Portuguese-speaking African Countries, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

According to data compiled by Macao-based researcher Liu Gang, there were 19 courses of Portuguese as a Foreign Language being taught in Chinese universities in 2012. The number has increased to 28 in 2015.

“This [trend] has to do with the economic development of Brazil and the Portuguese-speaking African Countries. Not only the demand for translators and interpreters has been increasing, but also the demand for Portuguese-language professionals in China,” Mr Liu told Lusa.

The statistics used in Mr Liu’s research – and published in the latest issue of online magazine Portu-nês – did not include Macao or Hong Kong, China’s special administrative regions.

In 2015 there were 39 Chinese and 18 foreigners teaching Portuguese in universities in Mainland China. Most native teachers came from Portugal and Brazil, Lusa reported.