Kolkata, Aug 5 - Three leading West Bengal universities Wednesday joined hands with China's Yunnan University to develop higher education and student exchange programmes.

Yunnan University and three leading universities of the state signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) aiming to work towards the integration of a mutually rewarding education system.

'The collaborations we are entering into will ensure that some of the programmes are started from September,' Higher Education Minister Sudarshan Roychowdhury told a seminar here.

He said the programme will emphasise and develop the study of indigenous languages of both nations.

'We've great regard for China.