China's first rural Community Learning Center (CLC) institute for lifelong learning was officially unveiled in Ningbo city, Zhejiang province, on April 24, Zhejiang News reported.

Approved by the UNESCO Beijing Office and Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, the institute is jointly established by China Adult Education Association and Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Education, as an extension of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All CLC project.

According to the cooperation agreement, both parties will endeavor to introduce the international advanced concepts of rural education and improve the literacy and quality of life of rural residents.

Robert Parua, program officer of the UNESCO's Beijing Office, said that the program is beneficial to the capacity building and skill development of the public.

"The rural CLC institute for lifelong learning will serve as an international platform for exchanges and cooperation, which will help promote Ningbo in terms of reforming and innovating adult education," said Zhang Jianguo, deputy director of the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Education.

The institute plans to collect lifelong learning stories in China's rural areas and spread these stories to the world in the future.

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province holds a symposium on rural adult education on April 24. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]