Mariola Moncada (center), sub-director of Xindongfang Language and Culture Center of China in Spain, Pablo Zhang (left), director of the center, and Ana Huang (right) of the center, at a panel discussion in Madrid recently. [Photo by Wen Zongduo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinese and Spanish cultures can bridge gaps in mutual understanding through the Cultural Center of China in Madrid and similar institutions, according to experts in Spain.

"The center is providing Spanish people with fresh, rich and lively information about the whole of China," said Mariola Moncada, sub-director of the Xindongfang Language and Culture Center of China in Madrid and mother of an adoptive daughter from China.

She said both sides should increase their exchanges and learn more of each other.

The center itself is a multi-functioned complex in downtown Madrid with a theater, library, classrooms for language and children, practice rooms for martial arts and Chinese culinary skills, exhibition halls and conference rooms. Luo Jun, director of the center, said his small team have made the halls and rooms flexible to cater for gatherings of varied size.

One of the key reasons for the center's significance is the limited knowledge of China, either today or ancient, among the Spanish general public, Moncada said. Apart from local media reports, most Spanish have learned of China through Chinese restaurants and commodities of Chinese origin in their communities and through Chinese tourists in recent years.

"In many fields, we have to start from scratch as far as cultural exchanges are concerned," she said.

Andonio Munoz, a security guard at Spain's Royal Palace, said awareness of China among the general public is not a match for growing Chinese tourists in Spain and China's rising importance.

The center has organized activities for exchanges many times since opening in late 2012. "We're endeavoring to showcase the distinct features of today's China in amiable and vivid forms," Luo said.

Apart from pooling resources from China, the center has been working with local arts groups, industrial and trade guilds, local provincial, city and district government and parliamentary departments in joint programs. Thanks to its intensive and influential programs the center was among the first group of winners for the 2014 Madrid Catedra China Award granted by the Catedra China, a Spanish panel of more than 130 professionals engaged for information analysis and discussion related to Chinese culture in which Moncada is actively involved.

" Spanish culture itself has been open, inclusive throughout its recent history," said Luo. "Its cultural diversity has been outstanding among European countries which helps the understanding of Asian cultures, specially of the Chinese".