The Ministry of Culture and the Shandong provincial government signed an agreement to jointly build the Belgrade China Cultural Center on Oct 31 in Jinan, capital of Shandong province.

The Ministry of Culture and Shandong provincial government sign an agreement to jointly build the Belgrade China Cultural Center on Oct 31 in Jinan. [Photo/Cultural Shandong]

Ding Wei, a top official from the Ministry of Culture, and Ji Xiangqi, vice governor of Shandong province, attended the signing ceremony.

Ding said at the ceremony that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić broke ground for the foundation stone of the Belgrade China Cultural Center on June 17, and it is a symbolic gesture to stress the countries' strong ties through cultural exchanges.

He added that construction of the Belgrade China Cultural Center bears an important and far-reaching significance. After completion, the center will work closely with Serbian cultural institutions, bringing locals high-level cultural activities and services, and promote bilateral cultural exchanges and enhance friendships between the two peoples.

Ji said that it is an important task for the Shandong government to build the Belgrade China Cultural Center with the Ministry of Culture. The Shandong government will earnestly implement the agreement and build the center with efficiency and quality.

Ji added that Belgrade China Cultural Center will become an essential window for Serbian people to better understand China as well as Shandong.

The design effect drawing of Belgrade China Cultural Center. [Photo/dzwww.com]

The Belgrade China Cultural Center, first of its kind to be built in the western Balkans, is designed with a construction area of 24,000 square meters, with the primary functions including a library, exhibition hall, multi-function hall, teaching and training centers, and offices.

The center will be built on the former site of the Chinese embassy, which was bombed by NATO in 1999.