Coventry University is to collaborate with Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics in Nanchang, south-east China, to set up an institute that will be dedicated to supporting international trade for regional businesses and helping the local community to learn about the Chinese language and culture.

The Confucius Institute will open at the Midlands campus next spring. The announcement was made at the annual UK Confucius Classrooms Conference at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London (attended by President Jinping and the Duke of York).

David Pilsbury, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor for international development, said: “We have a long association with China, and deeper engagement is a key part of our international strategy, through building better academic and social links.

“It will offer a unique opportunity for SMEs to explore how they can engage with this most important of markets to improve trade links. We anticipate that the institute will become one of the West Midlands region’s chief business connections to China in the years to come.”