Beijing's first German language center opened Thursday in the Public Library of Xicheng District.

The center was set up by the library in cooperation with Goethe College of Germany.

Among those present at the opening ceremony were Markus Wernhard, president of the Beijing branch of the Goethe College, and officials of Xicheng district.

Available in the center will be books and audio and video materials for learners of German in Beijing.

Goethe College has offered 300,000 yuan (nearly US$ 40,000) worth of printed and electronic books for the center, and will train two or three librarians in Germany and donate printed and electronic books to it annually.

A similar center has been set up in Shanghai, China's industrial and financial powerhouse.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/14/2001)