A Chinese university delegation inked an agreement with Zayed University of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Wednesday, with the aim of pushing forward cooperation and exchanges between the two sides.

The accord was signed by Yang Xueyi, chairman of the University Council of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan, UAE's minister of higher education and scientific research.

The BFSU and the UAE has a special relationship, Yang said, adding that quite a number of Arab heads of state and government officials, including the UAE's foreign minister, have visited the university.

He invited Sheikh Nahyan to the BSFU at an appropriate time.

Sheikh Nahyan, also president of Zayed University, said he was proud of the friendly ties between the UAE and China.

The minister, who has visited China for two times, said he was deeply impressed by the Chinese people's great achievements in economic development and the huge changes in their cultural life.

According to the agreement between the two universities, the BFSU will help Zayed University apply for the establishment of a Confucius Institute.

The two sides have also agreed to advance exchanges and reciprocal visits of teachers, students, research fellows and administrative staff.

"Our purpose of setting up the Confucius Institute is to introduce China's traditional culture to the world, so that peoples from different nations could know more about China and its tradition and culture," Yang told Xinhua.

"Furthermore, by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, we will offer help for those who are willing to learn the Chinese language," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to the UAE Gao Yusheng also attended the meeting and the signing ceremony.