MADRID, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish University of Valencia opened its Confucius Institute, the second in the country, on Thursday.

    Shi Ningzhong, president of China's Northeast Normal University, attended the launching ceremony.

    Francisco Tomas, chancellor of the University of Valencia, said he believed the Confucius Institute will make students' Chinese learning much easier.

    He said his university will continue to promote the student exchanges between both countries.

    The University of Valencia introduced Chinese language programs in 2005. The newly-opened Confucius Institute has 400 students, owns a library with 5,000 books in Chinese and other learning materials such as DVDs and CDs.

    So far, a total of 30 Spanish universities have opened Chinese language programs enrolling over 5,000 students. At least ten of then have applied to open Confucius Institute with Chinese help.

    The first Confucius Institute in Spain was jointly established by Autonomy University of Madrid and Casa Asia on Monday.