Local community

The China Exchange came about through an initiative of the Prince's Foundation for Building Community, working with the local community to create a series of recommendations to help build on the area's strengths.

"I am delighted that the center will not only provide a location for exhibitions, debate, performances and special events, but it will also act as a focal point for visitors to the area and a facility for the local community," the Prince of Wales said at the opening ceremony.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Cambridge has also developed a close relationship with China, making in March the first visit to the Chinese mainland by a senior British royal in nearly 30 years.

He visited Beijing's Forbidden City and Shijia Hutong Museum. Hutong are alleys that connect lowrise old-fashioned courtyard houses. This particular courtyard house has been restored by the Prince of Wales' China Foundation and the Prince's Foundation for Building Communities.

In Shanghai, he launched a campaign in the Long Museum to showcase British creativity and innovation in entertainment, design, healthcare and fashion, encourage partnership with Chinese businesses and attend the Chinese premiere of the British produced children's animated movie Paddington.

He also traveled to Xishuangbanna in Southwest China's Yunnan province to visit an elephant rehabilitation center.

Last year the Duke of Cambridge gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the University of Oxford's Dickson Poon Oxford University China Centre, which is a new academic center for the studying of Chinese.

The new 21 million pound ($33 million) building, which received a 10 million pound single donation from Hong Kong billionaire Dickson Poon, owner of the Harvey Nichols department store group, has five floors and a floor area of about 5,500 squaremeters. The center has a dedicated library and a reading room and will provide a permanent home for 60,000 volumes and a large part of the Bodleian Library's famous Chinese book collection.

During the opening ceremony, the Duke of Cambridge said that an understanding of China had never been more important than today.

cecily.liu@mail.chinadailyuk.com