BEIJING - A total of 23,292 Americans are currently studying in China with financial support from a bilateral government program, an official from China's Ministry of Education (MOE) said Wednesday.

Zhang Xiuqin, head of the international affairs department of the MOE, said at a press conference that China and the United States have achieved new progress in bilateral people-to-people cultural exchanges under the "China-US High Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange" program launched in May 2010.

The number of US students studying in China has increased by 18.4 percent compared to last year. Of the total, 2,094 are sponsored by Chinese government scholarships, according to Zhang.

Meanwhile, 4,363 Chinese people are working on doctoral degrees in the US, supported by Chinese government scholarships offered through the program, the official said.

"As important as political mutual trust and economic and trade cooperation, the program has given people-to-people exchange a pillar role in boosting China-US relations," said Zhang.

In addition to education, the people-to-people exchange program between the two countries also includes exchanges in science and technology, culture and sports as well as exchanges for women and young people.

With joint efforts from both sides, a series of innovative activities has been carried out over the past two years, including a forum for women leaders and a forum for leaders in their late teens and early 20s.

To further boost the program, the two countries will hold the third round of consultation on May 3 and 4. Students, provincial and state-level education officials from the two countries will discuss the further development of educational exchanges, according to Zhang.