Asian Confucius Institutes Assembly 2010 Convenes in Singapore

Xinhua, Singapore, June 26th (By Gao Chuan, Ding Qilin), the Asian Confucius Institutes Assembly 2010 opened on 26th, Confucius Institute Deans from East Asian and Southeast Asian countries exchanged their ideas on the development of Confucius Institutes.

The conference attracted more than 100 representatives from 10 prestigious Chinese universities and 49 Confucius Institutes from 10 Asian countries and regions. Deans of Confucius Institutes introduced the achievements and individual characteristics of their own Confucius Institutes and placed an emphasis on discussion of the cultivation and training of Chinese teachers, the recommendation and development of original Chinese teaching materials, supporting the establishment of Chinese programs in primary and middle schools as well as the implementation and resource sharing involved in the Great Wall teaching materials exhibition.

Xu Lin, Chinese State Council Consultant, Director-General of Hanban and General Director of the Confucius Institute Headquarters stated during the assembly: "By May this year, there had been more than 300 Confucius Institutes and more than 300 Confucius Classrooms established in over 90 countries. Amongst them 74 of the Confucius Institutes and 30 Confucius Classrooms were established in 31 Asian countries and regions."

She also explained that the Confucius Institute is developing rapidly around the world and that Asian Confucius Institutes have made tremendous contributions. The first Confucius Institute in Asia was founded in 2005, amongst the first batch of their inception; Asian countries have the most numerous Confucius Institutes.

Xu Fuji, Dean of the Singaporean Confucius Institute,at the Nanyang Technological University said, in regards to Singaporean Chinese ethnic students' historical and geographic knowledge of China; that the Confucius Institute is able to introduce the modern political, cultural and economic climate of China to Singaporean people through its latest resources, teaching materials and teachers, and has played a very important role in boosting exchanges of friendship between the two countries. He also said that the Assembly of Asian Confucius Institutes helps not only in the sharing of experience, but also reflects a harmonious yet different view of Confucianism.

Wei Wei, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Zhou Haiqing, Chairman of the Board of the Confucius Institute at the Nanyang Technological University and Vice President Yu Minghua also attended the opening ceremony of the assembly.