Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo (2nd R), Allision Burchell (3rd L), permanent secretary for Fiji's Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, and Kong Hongmei (1st R), chief of the cultural delegation from Zhengzhou of central China's Henan Province, and Deng Xianfu (2nd L), director of China Cultural Center in Fiji, cut the cake marking the opening of China Reading Corner in Suva, Fiji, on Sept. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)
SUVA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China Reading Corner opened here on Friday in the Fiji National Library to help strengthen the cultural exchanges between China and Fiji.
The China Reading Corner consists of over 6,000 books, 20,000 e-books and other hardware such as computers, reading desks, chairs, and book shelves donated by China's Zhengzhou Library.
Kong Hongmei (1st R), chief of the cultural delegation from Zhengzhou of central China's Henan Province, addresses the opening ceremony of China Reading Corner in Suva, Fiji, on Sept. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)
Speaking at a grand opening ceremony in the Fiji National Library in the Fijian capital city of Suva, Kong Hongmei, chief of the cultural delegation from Zhengzhou, capital of China's Henan Province, said that the opening of this corner demonstrates the deep friendship and close relationship between China and Fiji.
Describing the China Reading Corner as "a milestone of the cultural exchanges between China and Fiji," she said that this China-aided project sets a good example and provides a sustainable stage for the cultural exchanges between the two countries in the future.
Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said that, with this reading corner, Fijian people know where to find the information they are interested in and the reading corner will serve as a window for Fijian people to look out to the outside world.
"With more cultural exchange in this way, the Chinese and Fijian people will further deepen their friendship and have better understanding of each other," he said.
Students read books at China Reading Corner in the Fiji National Library in Suva, Fiji, on Sept. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)
Allision Burchell, permanent secretary for Fiji's Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Merewalisi Vueti, director of Fiji's Department of Library Services, welcomed the opening of the China reading corner, saying that Fiji has a lot to learn from China and this corner will help Fijians know better of China's great culture.
Meanwhile, Deng Xianfu, director of China Cultural Center in Fiji, said that this is a very good start and in the future, they will try to get more libraries in China to donate more books to Fiji National Library to enrich the collections.