CHANGCHUN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Blagoveshensk State Pedagogical University Wednesday established a Russian language center in Changchun University based in this capital city of northeastern China's Jilin Province, the provincial education authorities said.

    The move is part of China's "Year of Russian language" activities.

    The new center is the third of its kind in northeastern China, with the assistance from the Russkiy Mir Foundation of Russia, according to the local education authorities.

    The Russian university had set up its first two centers in Harbin Normal University and Harbin University in neighboring Heilongjiang Province over the past two days.

    "The establishment of Russian language centers in China will further enhance the friendship of the two nations and deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples," said Sergienko Yurey Pavlovich, the president of the Russian university told Xinhua.

    He said that the university would send lecturers to the centers to help carry out activities such as contest of Russian Language. Additionally, the center will provide free textbooks and cultural references to the teachers and lovers of Russian language in the area.

    In June 2007, the then Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to establish the Russkiy Mir Foundation which was dedicated to popularizing Russian Language and culture and supporting Russian language study programs outside Russia.

    The Russian foundation will sponsor the Blagoveshensk university to set up its next two centers in Daqing Normal University and Heihe College on May 15 and June 1, both in Heilongjiang province.