BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Ireland opened its first learning center in China Thursday to offer college education to Chinese students who can not travel to Ireland right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: Xinhua

The Irish Learning Center, located in the University for Science & Technology, Beijing, will start its first semester in the coming September.

The learning center is aimed at providing a better learning environment for students who choose online courses and prepare to obtain degrees in universities and colleges in Ireland, said Peng Jianqun, president of the ILC.

The establishment of the center "marks the beginning of a new way of Irish-China education cooperation," said Irish Ambassador to China Ann Derwin, who addressed the inauguration ceremony.

She added that Ireland understands education in a way much deeper than just books and lectures, and places great value on things like experience, community, life skills, "and most important of all, friendship."

The ambassador wished the center a great success and a bright future for cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.