Confucius Institute in Madrid celebrates 10th anniversary

The Confucius Institute in Madrid celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday with gala.

The event was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Spain Lyu Fan and people from the Spanish and Chinese communities.

The Confucius Institute first opened its door in Madrid in 2007 and since then has been a beacon for Spanish people interested in learning the Chinese language, as well as those who want to know more about Chinese culture. It has been important in strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Maria Navarro, coordinator of the institute in Madrid, had been a student there 10 years ago. She told Xinhua she believed its work was "very important."

"Everyone now wants to know things about China. We have more students all of the time and we do a lot of cultural work," she explained.

Saturday's event had plenty for those interested in culture, as following the opening speeches, there was a Wushu display which clearly impressed the audience.