PHNOM PENH, July 14 -- The Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia on Tuesday launched Chinese Corners at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Royal University of Fine Arts.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Cambodian Culture and Fine Arts Minister Phoeurng Sackona said Chinese is a very popular language in the world.

"These Chinese Corners will give opportunities to ministry officials and students to learn and practise Chinese with native speakers and to discover more about Chinese culture and tradition, " she said.

Established in Cambodia in Dec. 2009, the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia has opened 22 Chinese Corners at government's ministries, National Assembly, Senate, Army Headquarters, and universities, said Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo.

"I'm confident that the Chinese Corners at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Royal University of Fine Arts will help officials and students get better understanding of Chinese language, culture and tradition," she said.

Chea Monirith, director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the institute's objective is to promote Sino-Cambodian cultural ties and to provide quality Chinese education to Cambodian learners.