Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run attended the opening at the University of Coimbra, in central Portugal, of an institute that will study the nexus of China and the lusophone world, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese government-run news agency says the institute grew out of the Chinese studies centre at the university, which the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences helped set up.

The report quotes Mr Cai as saying the new institute is an important result of Sino-Portuguese collaboration in the academic field.

The institute will enhance the relationships between China and the lusophone countries, Xinhua quotes Mr Cai as saying.