A Chinese language training center was established in Lao Cai Province in Vietnam on Saturday, aiming to help promote ties, including education and culture ones, between China and Vietnam.

The establishment of the Chinese language training center will act as a new bridge to facilitate education and culture cooperation exchanges of southwest China's Yunnan Province and Vietnam's northern Lao Cai Province and contribute to the further development of friendly relations between the two countries, Qi Jianguo, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, said at the center's opening.

Yunnan and Lao Cai Province have seen remarkable improvement in education and culture development in recent years, he stated, noting that the number of students from Yunnan currently studying in Vietnam stands at more than 100, and that from Lao Cai and other Vietnamese localities in the Honghe Institute and other universities in the Chinese province is some 1,000.

Addressing the ceremony, Bui Quang Vinh, chairman of the Lao Cai People's Committee, said: "Lao Cai and Yunnan are gradually becoming an important bridge linking Vietnam and other members of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with the promising vast western region of China. The center's formation is a good opportunity for the two sides to deepen their education and training ties, as well as a favorable condition for Vietnamese cadres and students to enrich their knowledge of beautiful China's language, culture and people."

About 300 representatives, including senior officials, scholars and students from Yunnan's Honghe Prefecture and Lao Cai, attended the opening ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2005)