Britain is to establish a Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine, the first in the world which offers courses in Chinese medicine.

London South Bank University (LSBU) has negotiated terms of agreement with the Office of Chinese Language Council International, China (Hanban) to set up the Institute at its campus, according to officials of the University Tuesday.

The Confucius Institute will also offer courses in areas of worldwide developing interest including Chinese Massage, Acupuncture etc. Courses will be open for Applicants from both the UK and overseas and teaching will be in both Chinese and English.

"We are very excited to be working with leading partners in China to launch this new initiative. The institute will be a non-profit making education institution with the purpose of enhancing international understanding in the UK by sponsoring courses in Chinese language, culture and Chinese Medicine," Min Liu, Director of Asia Pacific from the LSBU said.

The Confucius Institute is being set up in partnership with two Chinese partners - Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine and Harbin Normal University, both in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The Confucius Institute at the LSBU is expected to open in September 2008.

The LSBU is ranked among the highest quality rated health education institutions in London and is the largest non-medical health provider in London.

Confucius was a great Chinese philosopher, statesman and scholar, who lived from 551 to 479 BC, and was one of the most influential thinkers in ancient China. There are 10 Confucius Institutes in the UK and 150 worldwide.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2007)