On December 9th and 10th, 2019, the 14th Confucius Institute Conference was held in Changsha, Hunan Province. Themed on “Innovation and Development of International Chinese Education in the New Era”, this conference attracted more than 1000 representatives of Confucius Institutes and Chinese educational institutes from over 160 countries and areas. Mr Sun Chunlan, Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and the Vice Premier of China’s State Council, attended this conference and delivered a keynote speech. The opening ceremony was held by Vice Minister of Education Mr Tian Xuejun, while the Secretary of Human Provincial Party Committee Mr Du Jiahao and the Ministry of Education Mr Chen Baosheng delivered speeches respectively. The Chinese director of San Marino Confucius Institute Mr Yan Shijun and a university lecturer of International Affairs Office Ms Zhang Xiaoyue, were invited to attend this conference.

This Confucius Conference holds 1 thematic forum and 32 workshops totally, centering on “Chinese plus professional skills”, and international Chinese education policy, standards, teaching faculty, teaching materials, teaching methods, tests and brand construction, as well as strengthening Chinese-foreign cooperation.

The closing ceremony is held by Deputy Chief Executive of Confucius Institute Headquarters Mr Ma Jianfei. The representatives of each thematic forum and workshop deliver speeches respectively, and the Vice Minister of Education Mr Tian Xuejun makes a summary speech. Lastly, this conference ends in great applauds of Chinese and foreign guests.

Up to now, Chinese government has established a total of 550 Confucius Institutes and has opened 1172 primary and secondary Confucius Classrooms in 162 countries and areas around the world. From the very beginning of its establishment, Confucius Institutes play crucial roles in boosting international Chinese education and establish a great platform for the world to know more about China.

It has been four years since BCU established San Marino Confucius Institute in 2019. Since its establishment, our university has consecutively recruited and selected excellent Chinese volunteer teachers to Confucius Institute for many years, which greatly facilitates the promotion of Chinese and Chinese traditional culture. At present, Guadalajara University Confucius Institute, jointly established by our university and Guadalajara University in Mexico, has been approved and will be unveiled next year.