SOFIA, Nov. 23 -- The first China Cultural Center in Bulgaria was inaugurated here on Thursday.

The center, covering an area of almost 4,000 square meters, is located in the downtown of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital city, and includes exhibition halls, a library and rooms for teaching Chinese language, calligraphy, music, martial arts, dance and cuisine.

Zhang Xu, China's Vice Minister of Culture, said at the ceremony that the inauguration of the China Cultural Center marked a new stage in the cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

"We will actively cooperate with the Bulgarian side to build this cultural center as a platform for cultural cooperation and sharing between China and Bulgaria," Zhang said.

Bulgarian Minister of Culture Boil Banov also said at the ceremony that the audience in his country would be pleased to welcome China's art, because acquaintance with Chinese culture was an unforgettable experience.

"I also express hope that a Bulgarian cultural center will soon be opened in Beijing to become an important unit for conducting a more active and coordinated Bulgarian cultural policy in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region," Banov said.

Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou said that the China Cultural Center in Sofia was the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe and was a symbol of the importance of Bulgaria in the cooperation between China and the countries in this region.

The ambassador said he expected that the center would play the role of bridge and link, and would give a new dynamic to the practical cooperation and all-round friendly partnership between China and Bulgaria.

SOFIA, Nov. 23 -- The first China Cultural Center in Bulgaria was inaugurated here on Thursday.

The center, covering an area of almost 4,000 square meters, is located in the downtown of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital city, and includes exhibition halls, a library and rooms for teaching Chinese language, calligraphy, music, martial arts, dance and cuisine.

Zhang Xu, China's Vice Minister of Culture, said at the ceremony that the inauguration of the China Cultural Center marked a new stage in the cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

"We will actively cooperate with the Bulgarian side to build this cultural center as a platform for cultural cooperation and sharing between China and Bulgaria," Zhang said.

Bulgarian Minister of Culture Boil Banov also said at the ceremony that the audience in his country would be pleased to welcome China's art, because acquaintance with Chinese culture was an unforgettable experience.

"I also express hope that a Bulgarian cultural center will soon be opened in Beijing to become an important unit for conducting a more active and coordinated Bulgarian cultural policy in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region," Banov said.

Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou said that the China Cultural Center in Sofia was the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe and was a symbol of the importance of Bulgaria in the cooperation between China and the countries in this region.

The ambassador said he expected that the center would play the role of bridge and link, and would give a new dynamic to the practical cooperation and all-round friendly partnership between China and Bulgaria.