China's first Sino-British university set up as an independent corporate body, Ningbo Nottingham University, laid its foundation Thursday in Ningbo City in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Construction of the university has been authorized by the Ministry of Education.

Built in 1881, the University of Nottingham has cultivated several Nobel Prize winners.

In March 2003, Zhejiang Wanli College and the University of Nottingham decided to invest 600 million yuan (about US$72 million) to construct Ningbo Nottingham University.

The university will feature three colleges including Commerce College, International Languages College and International Communication College, said Xu Yafen, board chairman of Zhejiang Wanli Educational Corporation.

Yang Fujia, chancellor of the University of Nottingham and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will serve as chancellor of the new university and Ian Gow, vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham, will serve as vice-chancellor of the new university.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2004)