University bookstore opens reading center in Indonesia

The Confucius Institute at the State University of Malang opened the Duxiu Shufang Reading Center on Dec 30 at the university's library in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

Duxiu Shufang is a university bookstore brand under the Guangxi Normal University Press Group. The new branch, jointly established by Guangxi Normal University, the State University of Malang, and the publishing group, is the third overseas location following two reading centers in Vietnam and Thailand.

Offering a blend of reading, cultural exhibitions and academic exchanges, the reading center features over 1,000 carefully selected books and more than 100 cultural and creative products, covering topics like Chinese literature, social sciences, arts, and Chinese language learning.

Future plans for the center include hosting a variety of cultural events.

Gong Min, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the State University of Malang, said that the establishment of Duxiu Shufang at the university aligns with the shared goals of building peace and prosperity and serves to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Hariyono, UM's president, said in his speech that the reading center provides the faculty and students with a valuable platform for learning and exchange and will become a new cultural landmark on campus.

Huang Xuanzhuang, president of the Guangxi Normal University Press Group, said that he hopes this reading space will become a "cultural laboratory" for the exchange of ideas and emotional connections among the youth of both countries.