New Russian language center launched in NE China

CHANGCHUN, May 13 -- Russia's Blagoveshensk State Pedagogical

University Wednesday established a Russian language center in Changchun

University based in this capital city of northeastern China's Jilin Province,

the provincial education authorities said.

The move is part of China's "Year of Russian language" activities.

The new center is the third of its kind in northeastern China, with the

assistance from the Russkiy Mir Foundation of Russia, according to the local

education authorities.

The Russian university had set up its first two centers in Harbin Normal

University and Harbin University in neighboring Heilongjiang Province over the

past two days.

"The establishment of Russian language centers in China will further

enhance the friendship of the two nations and deepen mutual understanding

between the two peoples," said Sergienko Yurey Pavlovich, the president of the

Russian university told Xinhua.

He said that the university would send lecturers to the centers to help

carry out activities such as contest of Russian Language. Additionally, the

center will provide free textbooks and cultural references to the teachers and

lovers of Russian language in the area.

In June 2007, the then Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to

establish the Russkiy Mir Foundation which was dedicated to popularizing Russian

Language and culture and supporting Russian language study programs outside

Russia.

The Russian foundation will sponsor the Blagoveshensk university to set up

its next two centers in Daqing Normal University and Heihe College on May 15 and

June 1, both in Heilongjiang province.