The fourth Confucius Institute was established on Monday at Coimbra University in northern city of Coimbra, some 200 km north of Lisbon.

The Confucius Institute of Coimbra University, the fourth of its kind in Portugal after the establishment of those of Minho University, Lisbon University, and Aveiro University, is operating in collaboration with Beijing International Studies University (BISU) and Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (ZCMU).

Speaking at the plaque-unveiling ceremony, representative of Portuguese science and technology and higher education minister Joao Queiroz said he believed the new institute would not only make a remarkable contribution to the dissemination of the Chinese language and culture, but would also further deepen the cooperation between Portugal and China.

He added the new Confucius Institute marked another step forward in the process of the university's internationalization.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run said he hoped the institute would steadily develop in an innovative way in order to become an important base for the promotion of Chinese language and cultural exchange between China and Portugal.

He also said he expected the new institute would expand the practice of traditional Chinese medicine in Portugal, further progress the friendly ties between the two countries, and build a more harmonious world.