HOUSTON - Twenty-five Chinese students from colleges in eight southern US states received an annual Chinese government award in Houston on Saturday.

At a ceremony hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, Deputy Consul General Xie Yunliang handed out the 2011 National Scholarship for Outstanding Self-Financed Chinese Students Abroad.

The recipients are from more than 10 colleges in southern US states, and their majors vary from genetics, biology, economics and chemistry to computer and environmental sciences.

This year, the award, which was established in 2003 by the Chinese government, would be conferred on 490 Chinese students pursuing study abroad worldwide.

According to Xie, the number of overseas Chinese students totalled 2.25 million by the end of 2011. In 2011 alone, about 340,000 Chinese students went abroad for studies, 19.3 percent higher than in the previous year.

Xie said the Chinese government attaches great importance to the young generation and will create favorable environment for their development.