JERUSALEM, May 9 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli government academic agency plans to provide 40 million shekels (about 10.5 million U.S. dollars) annually in a foundation granting university scholarships to Chinese students.

According to the initiative, the Council for Higher Education in Israel will provide Chinese students with 250 scholarships; 100 of them for undergraduate students, 50 for graduate students and 100 for post-doctorates, Moshe Vigdor, the council's director general, told Xinhua this week.

Vigdor added that he hopes the scholarships will strengthen the strategic and academic ties between the two nations.

"The scholarships offered outstanding Chinese students to come and study in academic institutions in Israel, which are renowned for their high standards and international research ties, and will give the students the opportunity to know about Israel and its scientific excellence at first hand," Vigdor said.

The scholarship program will be taught in English and begin in the coming school year.