AMMAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Philadelphia University of Jordan on Thursday held a celebration marking the Chinese new year that falls on Feb. 16.

During the event, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Pan Weifang congratulated the students who study Chinese at the university.

Pan also urged students to continue their studies at the Chinese cultural center that will be possibly inaugurated this year.

Motaz Salem, the university's president, said there was a large number of students learning Chinese at the university, which was keen to increase cultural cooperation with China.

Several distinguished students were honored during the ceremony, and a group of students who visited China last year narrated their experience.