KIEV, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The second Confucius Institute in Ukraine, co-founded by China's Jilin University and the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, opened Friday on the latter's campus.

    Zhou Li, the Chinese ambassador to Ukraine, said during opening ceremonies that language offers an important tool for people to understand a country's culture, and the Confucius Institute will contribute to the development of Sino-Ukrainian relations.

    "More and more Ukrainian students are willing to learn Chinese language. The establishment of the Confucius Institute will promote mutual exchanges in the fields of education, culture and tourism," Zhou said.

    Li Yulin, vice president of the renowned Jilin University, expressed confidence that the Confucius Institute will become a bridge for the peoples of the two countries to enhance their traditional friendship.

    The National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, founded in 1834, is the leading institution of higher education in Ukraine. The university was named after Taras Shevchenko, a major figure in the Ukrainian arts.

    Peter Bekh, vice president of the university, said the Confucius Institute will lay a solid foundation for Chinese-language education in Ukraine.

    The first Confucius Institute in Ukraine was established in the eastern city of Luhansk in 2007.

    The Chinese government started to push forward the establishment of non-profit Confucius institutes overseas in 2004.More than 200 Confucius Institutes have been founded since.