BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Government scholarships have allowed 26,658 Chinese to go and study overseas since 1996, and 97percent of them returned to China after completing their studies, the China Scholarship Council (CSC) said here on Thursday.

The CSC will fund 7,000 overseas students in 2007 -- roughly the same number as in 2006 -- but Chinese graduate students will this time make up a higher proportion.

The government is keen to select more graduates in key research areas, such as energy, environment, life sciences and new materials, according to the CSC.

Most students go to top-notch universities and research institutes in the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Australia and Canada.

According to CSC secretary-general Zhang Xiuqin, China's booming economy, increased opportunities and preferential policies for returning students are drawing Chinese students back to the motherland.