PHNOM PENH－The Chinese Embassy here on Monday donated 9,130 Chinese language books to five universities and schools in Cambodia. The beneficiaries are the State-owned Royal University of Phnom Penh, Asia Euro University, Min Sheng Chinese School, Duan Hua Chinese School and Li Qing Chinese School.

Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the embassy residence in Phnom Penh, Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo said the books included literature, history, geography, tourism, education, arts, culture, language and agriculture with a total cost of 330,000 Chinese yuan ($50,000).

He said the donation was aimed at promoting Chinese teaching and further enriching the teaching resources of Chinese schools in Cambodia.

"It's the second time that the Chinese Embassy donates reading books to schools in Cambodia," Xiong said. "I believe that the books will help Cambodian students and researchers to learn and to understand better about China."

The ambassador said as more and more Chinese investors and tourists came to Cambodia, the demand for Chinese speaking would be surely on the rise.

Chhun Hok, vice rector of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the university opened a Chinese Language Center in 2007 and a faculty of Chinese literature in 2010. To date, the center had offered short courses to 1,700 students and the faculty had provided bachelor's degrees to 175 students.

"The books will be very useful for students to study and to understand better about Chinese culture and development," he said.