Prince William unveils China study center in Oxford University

Prince William (4th L), Duke of Cambridge, officially unveil the China Centre with other guests of honor in Oxford, the United Kingdom, on Sept 8, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, unveiled a new China Center in the University of Oxford Monday.

Covering an area nearly 5,500 square meters, the new Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Center in St Hugh's College cost about 21 million pounds.

Dickson Poon, a philanthropist from Hong Kong, China, is the one of the major donors of the center, who contributed 10 million British pounds ($16.14 million).

Duke of Cambridge met local students and faculty, as well as residents in Oxford.

He visited the library in the center, which could provide a permanent home for 60,000 volumes and would become a large part of the Bodleian Libraries' Chinese book collection.

Duke of Cambridge gave a brief congratulation speech and joined a Chinese traditional ribbon cutting ceremony with Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, Professor Rana Mitter, director of the center and Lord Patten, Chancellor of the university.

"The China Center is an enormous achievement. It stands on the foundations of many centuries of learning in the University of Oxford about China, and it marks a significant leap forward," the Duke said on the opening ceremony.

He said learning from and learning about China has never been more important than it is now.

Noting that China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, Prince William said China's long history, customs and artistic and technological ingenuity have endured as a source of fascination and wonder in the world.

"This center will do more than just deepen our understanding of China. ... I have no doubt that the students and fellows will contribute much to the store of human knowledge from which future generations will draw," he added.