The Confucius Institute of Pisa, the fourth of its kind in Italy, was inaugurated on Thursday at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa.

It was jointly founded by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa and Chongqing University, which is located in southwest China.

At the inauguration ceremony, representatives from the two countries said the Confucius Institute of Pisa will promote Chinese language training and Chinese culture, enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

They said the institute will not only promote scientific, cultural and academic exchanges between the two universities, but also help the enterprises in Tuscany, in middle Italy, cooperate with Chinese companies.

The first Confucius institute in Italy was established at the University of Rome in 2006. The second was founded in the Italian port city of Naples in 2007. The third was opened just on Wednesday at the University of Turin.

The Chinese government started to set up non-profit Confucius institutes overseas in 2004. More than 200 Confucius institutes have been established so far around the world.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2008)