PHNOM PENH, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The first largest Chinese language bookstore, Xinzhi Books, officially opened here on Saturday to further promote Chinese language and cultures in Cambodia.

Li Yong, chairman of Xinzhi Books Group, said the Xinzhi Books Group is one of the largest private-owned bookstores in China. The group has 52 stores in China's Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Hunan.

"This is the first time that the Xinzhi Books Group opens overseas branch," he said. "We choose Cambodia for the first branch because now more Cambodian people prefer studying and reading Chinese language and in order to help promote bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and China on cultures."

There are 80,000 types of Chinese language books in the fields of general education, social science, literature, lifestyles, children, economics, science and technology, and ancient history, he said, adding sport items and toys are also available.

At the launch, participants included Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia' s minister of information, Li Ju Fang, deputy chief of Yunnan's information office, and Sheng Wei Wei, the first secretary at the Embassy of China to Cambodia, in charge of culture affairs.

"It was the first ever Chinese bookstore in Cambodia and it will expand further friendship relation and cultural ties between Cambodia and China," said Khieu Kanharith.

At the meantime, Li Ju Fang said the launch of the Chinese language bookstore would move closer China-Cambodian relations on education and cultures.

Chinese language has been going popular in Cambodia in recent years thanks to the two countries' good relations and fast growing number of Chinese business people, investors and visitors to this country.

According to Chinese Association in Cambodia, there are over 700,000 Chinese-blood descendants living in Cambodia and the country has 56 Chinese schools with more than 30,000 students.

The Xinzhi Books is located on street 289 in Phnom Penh's Tuol Kork district.