Brazilian Confucius Institute at the University of Estadual Paulista and Santander Bank Host a “Top China Program”

Prof. Dr. Luís Antonio Paulino, the Brailian Director of the Confucius Institute making open speech

Between July 6th and 7th of 2010, 100 teachers and students hailing from 20 Brazilian universities gathered in Sao Paulo to attend a lecture on the study of Chinese culture as organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Estadual Paulista before leaving for China to participate in the 2nd Santander “Top China Program”. Gu Yunfen, Chinese Consul General to Sao Paulo attended the lecture and offered comment.

The “Top China Program” is a Santander-sponsored university student exchange program between China and Brazil that has taken place since 2009, the activity has been hosted by the University of Estadual Paulista, with the Confucius Institute organizing a pre-tour Chinese cultural training program. Last year 50 teachers and students from 10 universities in Brazil attended exchange programs at China’s Shanghai Jiaotong University lasting 3 weeks. This year 40 Chinese university students will go to Brazilian universities in order to attend similar exchange programs in August.

Gu Yunfen, Chinese Consul General to Sao Paulo offering congratulatory words

Prof. Dr. Luís Antonio Paulino, Director of the Confucius Institute at University of Estadual Paulista delivered an opening speech, hoping that the cultural training program will help teachers and students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of China.

Consul General Gu Yunfen in her speech looked back upon and praised last year’s tour highly, she pointed out that this year the tour will facilitate a visit to Brazil by Chinese students. The tour has indicated that the two sides agree that such academic exchange is both necessary and profitable. She believes there will be more “Top China” programs held to promote the two sides’ mutual trust and across the board cooperation. Gu also hopes that teachers and students make full use of this opportunity to experience China, actively introduce China to the world and contribute to Sino-Brazilian friendship.

One hundred teachers and students listening to the lecture

Shu Jianping, Cultural Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Brazil visited Sao Paulo to give a lecture entitled “A Glimpse of Chinese Culture”, in order to introduce to teachers and students the language, religions, philosophical thought and cuisines of China as well as it’s cultural diversity.

Li Xiangkun, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Estadual Paulista also gave a lecture entitled “Learning about Today’s China” to display the similarities of the two countries’ territories, illustrate the phonetic similarities and differences of the two words Tea and Coffee in the Chinese and Portuguese language in order to stress the two people’s traditional commonalities and the history of the two countries’ diplomatic ties. The outcome was finding of common ground and shortening the distance between the two countries through the chance for cross-cultural cognition and comprehension, whilst preserving the two countries’ differences. Prof. Li also elaborated upon the civilizations in China’s Yellow River valley and Yangtze Valley to illustrate the cultural amalgamation of northern and southern China and encouraged Brazilian teachers and students to interpret the concept of Chinese Yin and Yang balance, the sharing of the perspective of international harmony and getting closer to today’s China as a multinational country seeking coexistence and common development.

Confucius Institute teacher Yang Fan, Wang Zhaowei and Huaguang Language and Culture Center President Qi Yaobin also made lectures on China’s knowledge and Chinese culture.

Before teachers and students left for China after the two day cultural training program, Prof. Herman Jacobus Cornelis Voorwald, Rector of the University of Estadual Paulista and the program officer from Santander Bank, as team leaders, congratulated the success of the training program. Finally, Consul General Gu Yunfen, the Directors of the Confucius Institute and the program officer from Santander Bank had group photos taken with participating students and teachers. (Contributed by Li Xiangkun, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at University of Estadual Paulista)

Shu Jianping, Cultural Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Brazil introducing Chinese culture

Li Xiangkun, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute Introducing today’s China

Herman Jacobus Cornelis Voorwald, President of the University of Estadual Paulista making a congratulatory speech

A group of participants of the “Top” China program