On December 9th, the 2015 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes was held at the International Meeting Hall of the Administration Building on the North Campus. Since 2006, GDUFS has cooperated with four universities and has set up Confucius Institutes at Sapporo University of Japan, Ural Federal University of Russia, Catholic University of Santa Maria of Peru and University of Cape Verde. Delegates from the four Confucius Institutes visited GDUFS and talked about their future development.

The attendees were: Vice Chairman SHI Youqi and Vice President FANG Fanquan of GDUFS; Japanese Director ZHANG Weixiong, Chinese Director YU Liuyi and Japanese Vice Director TAKASE Natsuko of the Confucius Institute of Sapporo University; Vice President Vladimir Kruzhaev of Ural Federal University, Professor Vadim A Kuz’ min, Russian Director Maria Guzikova and Chinese Director CHEN Hui of the Confucius Institutes of Ural Federal University; President Alberto Briceno of Santa Maria Catholic University of Peru, Peruvian Director Angelica Corzo and Chinese Director PENG Qigui of the Confucius Institutes of Santa Maria Catholic University of Peru; President Judite Medina do Nascimento of University of Cape Verde, Director Arminda Briro of the Confucius Institute of University of Cape Verde; Representatives of the Organization Division, Human Resources Division, Faculty of Asian Languages and Cultures, Faculty of European Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Chinese Language and Culture and Institute for International Education and all staff from the Office of International Cooperation. The conference was presided over by CAI Hong, Director of Office of International Cooperation.

At the beginning of the conference, Vice President FANG Fanquan delivered a speech. He said that the Confucius Institute was developing and expanding all over the world with the increasing communication between China and other countries. As an important institute to spread Chinese language and culture, the Confucius Institute has made great contributions to the cultural diversity of the world. He expressed his gratitude to the directors, teachers, students and staff of the Confucius Institute for their contributions. He also hoped that the conference could be a platform for communicating experience, seeking cooperation and planning for the future, so as to provide a powerful engine for the development of the Confucius Institute. Later, Vice President Vladimir Kruzhaev of Ural Federal University, President Alberto Briceno of Santa Maria Catholic University of Peru and President Judite Medina do Nascimento of University of Cape Verde also gave speeches. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to GDUFS for supporting them and praised the Chinese directors, teachers and volunteers for their excellent work. They also hoped to join hands with GDUFS to build better Confucius Institutes.

FANG Fanquan speaking

Vice President FANG Fanquan gave a work report from four respects: Introduction, Experience, Cooperation and Plan. He articulated that the Confucius Institutes of GDUFS made great progress with the efforts of all departments. He said that the Confucius Institutes were recruiting more students and enhancing Chinese education. In addition, GDUFS has continued to send teachers and volunteers to the institutes and set more scholarships at the Confucius Institutes. GDUFS hsd also made great efforts to train the directors, teachers and volunteers, improving the quality of Chinese education. “These could not be achieved without the support from Hanban and the headquarters of the Confucius Institutes and the universities we are cooperating with.” Vice President FANG added. “We will continue to contribute to the communication between China and other parts of the world by improving the construction and administration of Confucius Institutes.”

Maria Guzikova reporting

Representatives from three Confucius Institutes delivered their reports. Professor YU Liuyi introduced the Confucius Institute of Sapporo University by explaining the three elements supporting the Confucius Institutes: Language and Culture lessons; seminars and speeches, and all kinds of cultural activities. With statistics and graphs, Professor Maria Guzikov presented the great development and bright future of the Confucius Institute of Ural Federal University. Angelica Corzo presented the environment, facilities, faculties and students’ activities of the Confucius Institute of Santa Maria Catholic University of Peru through a delicately-made video.

Angelica Corzo reporting

In the Q&A section, ZHANG Weixiong and PENG Qigui expressed their views towards the establishment and development of the Confucius Institutes. ZHANG Weixiong even invited the present guests to attend the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institutes of Sapporo University.

Group photo