China hands over to Senegal building hosting Dakar Confucius Institute

DAKAR, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's ambassador to Senegal Zhang Xun on Wednesday handed over to Senegalese authorities the keys to the building hosting the Dakar Confucius Institute, an official source said.

The building which was constructed within Cheikh Anta Diop University, was funded by the Chinese government at a cost of 1.5 billion CFA Francs (2.5 million U.S. dollars).

"Since its establishment in December 2012, the Confucius Institute at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar has become a window for Senegalese youths to know more about China and understand Chinese culture," Zhang said.

The institute has so far recruited over 600 students and started offering Chinese language lessons in other universities, colleges and schools across the country.

In October last year, the institute successfully organized a competition focusing on knowledge of Sino-Africa relations.

"China will continue to reinforce exchanges and mutual aspirations on the cultural front with Senegal. In future, the Chinese part will continue to intensify, as always, the exchanges and professional contacts at all levels between China and Senegal," the Chinese ambassador said.

Zhang said each year, China gives 30 scholarships to Senegalese students to study in China.

The vice-chancellor of Cheikh Anta Diop University Ibrahim Thioub said Senegal had "exceptional privilege" to have such a building which he described as "an architectural masterpiece."

The building has seven lecture halls with capacity to hold 40 students, a multi-media hall, an amphitheatre and a library.