China is confident in its ability to become one of the world's most attractive destinations for international students as it pushes forward with efforts to build itself into a leading force in education, a senior official said Wednesday.

"We have confidence in that goal, and we will continue to make efforts to achieve it," said Wang Daquan, Party secretary and director-general of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education.

Speaking at a news conference, Wang highlighted the growing appeal of studying in China, citing data from the center that points to notable positive trends over the past three years.

These include a steady rise in the number of applicants, greater diversity in countries of origin, a significant increase in self-funded students, and a marked rise in the number of degree-seeking candidates at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels.

Wang attributed the upward trajectory to several advantages that distinguish China as a study destination. Chief among them, he said, is the strong cost-effectiveness offered by the country's higher education system, whose quality has continued to improve.

"In various world university rankings and subject rankings, one can observe that the overall strength of Chinese universities is advancing significantly — not just marginally, but in a sustained and notable manner," Wang said. China also offers some of the lowest tuition fees for university education, he said. "This high cost-performance ratio is a key factor attracting overseas students to China."

He also pointed to the country's stable policies and safe environment, describing China as offering one of the most secure settings for international study. In addition, the rapid pace of China's development presents opportunities for overseas students to share in the country's growth, he said.

The growing global presence of Chinese enterprises and the Belt and Road Initiative are also creating new opportunities for graduates of Chinese universities as they seek work in their home countries or elsewhere, Wang said.