BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China will further expand external cultural exchanges and build the China International Culture Exchange Centre (CICEC) into a "world-renowned" platform for people-to-people exchanges, a senior Chinese official said Thursday.

Yang Chuantang, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks at the 6th plenary session of the board of directors of CICEC, which elected the 6th council of the center at the Great Hall of the People.

Elected as the new chairman, Yang spoke highly of the role CICEC has played in the past 35 years since it was established in 1984, which was to demonstrate Chinese culture to the international community and enhance the friendship between the Chinese people and the people of other countries.

The center has so far co-held six high-level exchange activities with six countries' embassies in China this year and a series of cultural exchange activities in the past five years, covering music, art, dance, etc., according to a report by the Secretary General of CICEC Xu Honghai.

To improve channels and mechanisms for international cultural exchanges, Yang said the center will actively promote ties with cultural exchange departments and groups in countries and regions along the Belt and Road, think tanks and non-governmental organizations, establish a sustainable people-to-people exchange cooperation mechanism, and promote the implementation of cooperation projects.

"The center will also bring into full play the professional advantages and key roles of all directors in external exchanges, and contribute to the new round of high-level opening up," Yang said.

Elected every five years, the council brings together people with strong social influence in multiple areas.