BEIRUT, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The first chocolate museum in the Middle East opened in Lebanon on Friday, National News Agency (NNA) reported.

"The museum is present in Brussels, New York, Paris, Mexico and Prague, and today we are opening it in Lebanon for the first time in this part of the world," Mohamad Hashwe, head of the board of directors of the museum, was quoted by NNA as saying.

According to Hashwe, the museum contains 350 paintings and artifacts telling the story of chocolate and the development of this industry over the years.

The museum also has a training center to provide courses for those interested in chocolate manufacturing, he added.