Daley is the new co-chairman of a federal program that sends American students to study in China.
The mayor, who recently returned from China, announced nearly $500,000 in grants for Chinese language and cultural programs within Chicago Public Schools.
"We have so many students studying here, we have to send more Americans over there. To have 100,000 American students studying there by 2014 - that is the goal, and it's an exciting goal," said Daley.
While in China last month, the mayor got a firsthand look at the country's high speed rail lines. He is soliciting Chinese investment in a similar line here between O'Hare and the Loop.
