BEIJING, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Jia Qinglin has praised the contributions of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) in facilitating China's international exchange, as it celebrated its 50th founding anniversary on Sunday.

In a congratulatory letter, Jia called on the university to improve its education quality, promote Chinese culture and facilitate cultural development and exchanges both in and outside China.

Jia is the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

State Councilor Liu Yandong also sent a congratulatory letter to the university, urging it to take advantage of its strength in language teaching and research and train more foreign-related talents.

Since its founding in 1962, the BLCU has been an important academic base for language and culture research as well as a training center for international talents in China.

During the past five decades, the BLCU has trained some 150,000 foreign students from 176 countries and regions, according to an introduction to the university.

The university is the only one of its kind in China that promotes Chinese language and culture, the introduction says.