CULTURAL CENTERS BROADEN CHINESE HORIZONS

Overseas institutions aid accumulation of global knowledge

Editor's note: In a world facing increasing challenges on a number of fronts, such as isolationism and protectionism, different nations and cultures now have a stronger need and desire to get to know one another. In this series, China and the World: Learning and Understanding, we look at efforts being made globally to broaden mutual communication and understanding. This is the fourth in the series.

When Sinologist Michael Kahn-Ackermann became involved with establishing the Goethe-Institut in Beijing in the early 1980s, he said the task was considered as difficult as setting up such an institute on Mars.