I thought this quote from the very end of the article was interesting:

"This is the first time that we have internationally comparable data on learning outcomes in China,� Mr. Schleicher said. �While that�s important, for me the real significance of these results is that they refute the commonly held hypothesis that China just produces rote learning.�

I remember reading that the US is number 1 in terms of student confidence. I wonder where the Chinese rate on the confidence scale.

Warning: sleep deprived