BRAZZAVILLE, March 11 -- Twenty students from the Republic of Congo who have benefited from a scholarship offered by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), are set to leave Brazzaville Wednesday to study engineering in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The students were chosen by the ministry in charge of territorial planning and public works. They will benefit from a five-year scholarship at Changan University where they will study various engineering courses.

CRBC-Congo director general Liang Qingshan said the students will be in addition to 60 other Congolese students who have obtained scholarships from CRBC to get higher education in China.

An agreement signed in 2011 in Beijing between the Congolese government and CRBC envisioned training of 100 Congolese students in civil engineering.

"We hope that once these Congolese students complete their studies, they will return to their country to utilize the skills acquired in China in the development of the Republic of Congo," Liang said.