BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China will continue promoting the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education to facilitate teaching and learning a variety of subjects, said Minister of Education Chen Baosheng at the ongoing International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education.

China has issued several plans for the integrated development of AI and education and supporting the modernization of education with information technologies, Chen said at a ministerial forum held during the conference.

"We will work on fostering multi-layered talent for AI and smart education, provide more space for the application of AI in education, train high-caliber teachers for AI education, and provide scientific and research innovations on the topic," he said.

China will also establish mechanisms for the linkage and dialogue between education and the AI industry to offer increased and improved infrastructure for AI education, he said.

This September, a total of 35 universities in China will become the country's first batch to offer AI as a major to undergraduate students amid a drive to build a strong AI talent pool.

Besides offering an AI major, nearly 20 educational institutions such as the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Nanjing University have set up their own AI colleges.

Experts have said this reflects China's huge demand for AI talent.

William Boulding, dean of the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, said he sees a promising future for AI in education in China as the new generation of students grew up using technology.

"Students who want to work in a world of technology have to be comfortable with learning online with the help of AI," Boulding told Xinhua.