Prince of Wales opens Chinese cultural centre

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall are greeted by two Chinese lions as they visit Chinatown in London, February 19, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall opened a new Chinese cultural center in the heart of London's Chinatown on Thursday, the first day of the Chinese New Year.

Known as the China Exchange, the center provides two large spaces for exhibitions, performances, lectures and special events.

It will also be used to host discussions on issues ranging from culture to business, the environment to heritage, education to enterprise, medicine to religion, economy to anthropology, and architecture to philosophy.

China Exchange came about because the Prince's Foundation for Building Community carried out an Enquiry by Design in 2008 in Chinatown, working with the local community to create a series of recommendations to help build on the area's strengths and improve this unique part of London.

An Enquiry by Design is a consultation that aims to get local residents involved in planning the future of their communities.

One of the recommendations, following this Enquiry by Design, was the creation of a Chinese cultural center, a vision which has since become reality in the form of the China Exchange.

The prince said that China Exchange will become a platform for the exchange of ideas between the East and the West.

"I am delighted that the center will not only provide a location for exhibitions, debate, performances and special events, but it will also act as a focal point for visitors to the area and a facility for the local community," the prince said.