LONDON - East China's Jiangsu province on Thursday launched a cultural center near London, Britain, with the purpose of using it as a platform to promote the province's ?cultural products to overseas market.

At a ceremony marking the opening of the European (London) Center for the Promotion of Jiangsu Cultural Industry held in Epping City of Essex, which is located to the northeast of London, Liang Yong, an official of Jiangsu Provincial Government, said that the center would play a role as a bridge and showcase for Jiangsu cultural sector to step into the overseas markets.

Liang said that the center would also help promote and strengthen cultural exchanges between China and Britain, and China and Europe as well.

Jiangsu, an economic powerhouse on the east China seaboard, has established sisterly ties with Essex since 25 years ago. The province has made great efforts to help its cultural industry to " go global" over the years and has made remarkable progress in this regard fields, said Liang, who didn't elaborate.

According to the Chinese official, Jiangsu generated 233 billion yuan (about 36.98 billion U.S. dollars ) with its cultural sector last year.