The Chinese Embassy on Friday donated about 600 textbooks to the faculty of Arts and the Balme Library of University of Ghana to assist in the teaching of Chinese.

This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU)between the Chinese government and the University in 2008, to start the teaching of Chinese language.

Wang Lushan, Charge D'affaires of the embassy who presented the books on behalf of the office of Chinese Language Council International of China, said the Chinese language was a very cordial one, thus attracting many people in the world to learn it.

He said most China visa applicants are students who are desirous of studying Chinese, adding that Ghana and China have had long standing bilateral and cordial relations.

He said University of Ghana began the Chinese language training programme last year, and that 30 students have so far gone through the course, adding that last year four students from Ghana were given scholarships to undertake a master's degree in Chinese language in China.

He said two language instructors and eight volunteers from China were in the country to assist University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

He said about 30 students have applied to study Chinese at the degree level which begins this academic year at University of Ghana.

Professor E. Kweku Osam, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, thanked the Chinese government for supporting the programme.

He said to learn a language effectively there was need to have closer interaction with the instructor.

He said "we can count on the support of the Chinese government to build the Confucius institute in West Africa."

Teddy Konu, Outgoing Registrar of the university, said Chinese culture was a broad one that many people find attractive, adding that Ghana and China had a long standing political relationship which should be continued into the future.

He urged the embassy to broaden the areas of co-operation by entering into other areas to promote greater understanding for benefit of the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2009)