THE University of Bolton has finished third in a race to be the most successful in establishing educational links with China.

The Greater China Awards are run by UK Trade and Investment North West and reward the organisations which have made the most significant contribution to developing network links in the Far East.

Outright winners were the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University were runners up in the award, sponsored by Finnair, Klako Group and HSBC.

The University of Bolton has signed six memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in the last six months with a range of Chinese universities for programmes to encourage their students to come to the town, and is working hard to increase its market recognition in China, raise the number of students and establish collaborations with Chinese institutions and companies in research and business projects.

The winners were announced at the Greater China Awards and Chinese New Year Dinner today at the Lowry Theatre in Salford.

The Awards were presented by Mr Fred Charpentier from Finnair and the finalists announced by Consul General Pan Yundong.

The ceremony also included a celebration dinner to welcome in the Chinese Year of the Horse.