Cayce, SC (WLTX) -  The relationship between China and the United States continues to grow.

According to the South Carolina Department of Commerce, in 2009 China bought about $869 million in goods from our state, making them one of the top five export markets for South Carolina.  The United States also competes with China for business. So what better way to work as friends or competitors than to know them?

BY TREVOR BARATKO
If “China owns the U.S.,” as we often hear, wouldn’t it make sense for young American students to have an understanding of Chinese culture? Or, at the very least, the native Chinese tongue?

Furthermore, if China is among South Carolina’s top five export markets, shouldn’t the state’s youth be trained in communicating with business leaders in that market?

Enter East Point Academy in Cayce, a preschool-through-2nd grade Chinese-immersion public charter school that started its inaugural school year in August.

WEST COLUMBIA, SC - February 25, 2011 - A new public charter school in the Midlands will host an information meeting Tuesday, March 1 at 6 PM at

USC in the Amoco Hall at the Swearingen Engineering Center, 315 Main Street and the public is invited. A second meeting will be held Sunday, March 6 at 3:30 at the Southeast Branch of the Richland County Public Library located at 7421 Garners Ferry Road.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The University of South Carolina's Confucius Institute is helping launch a Mandarin Chinese immersion school that opens in the fall.
USC spokeswoman Peggy Binette said Wednesday the Institute is helping arrange for five teachers from China to serve on the faculty at the state charter school.

Instruction will be available for 4-year-old and 5-year-old kindergarten as well as first and second grades. Additional grade levels are expected to be added each year to the Cayce school.