North Europe Stockholm Confucius College, the first one in Europe, has been established at Stockholm University, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

The institute was jointly established by China's National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOCFL) , Fudan University in Shanghai and Stockholm University.

Lu Fengding, China's Ambassador to Sweden, said while addressing the establishment ceremony on February 18 that the institute will not only promote the educational and cultural exchanges between China and Sweden, but also play an active role in deepening the understanding and friendship between the two peoples and promoting the friendly bilateral relations. He extended his wishes to the institute.

NOCFL deputy director Zhang Guoqing, Kare Bremer, vice-chancellor of Stockholm University and the first president of the college Luo Duobi gave speeches at the ceremony. They regarded the college as a big event for the Sinology circle in Sweden and in North Europe, and held that it will play an important part in the spread of Chinese language and Chinese culture there.

By People's Daily Online