Iraq's University of Baghdad opens Chinese language department

BAGHDAD, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's University of Baghdad on Sunday inaugurated the Chinese Language Department within its College of Languages.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Cui Wei said that Chinese is one of the world's most widely spoken languages and a cultural window for the world to understand China.

He noted that the establishment of the Chinese Department will greatly contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and further deepening the friendship between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples.

Ali Adnan Mashwash, dean of the College of Languages, said that the creation of the department reflects the university's recognition of the growing global importance of the Chinese language.

He also expressed hope that the program will help boost scientific and cultural relations between Iraq and China.

In August, the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research officially approved the establishment of the Chinese Department at University of Baghdad, with an initial enrollment of 20 students.

Iraq has witnessed a surge in Chinese language fever in recent years. In 2019, Salahaddin University in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region became the first Iraqi university to offer an academic degree in the Chinese language.