On June 25, Liu Yandong, the State Councilor, attended the welcome ceremony for Chinese Bridge for American Schools and delivered a speech. He stressed that the exchange and cooperation in language teaching between China and the U.S.A could bring advantages to both sides, as well as the whole world.

Liu introduced China’s contemporary implementation of Science and Education strategies and its notable achievements in education development. He stressed that the Chinese government will insist on the priority of developing education and seeking to deeply implement the strategies of fostering talent to rejuvenate China and finally help China become a country with large human resources.

Liu expressed sincere thanks to the U.S. government and people who have lent a warm hand to Wenchuan, China after the earthquake.

Liu pointed out that language is the carrier of culture. It is national education’s historical responsibility to foster civilians who have a grasp not only of the official national tongue, but also of other languages. Chinese culture has a more than 5,000 year brilliant history, a broad array of historical books, luxuriant poetry and extraordinary painting and sculpture. Besides that, its four great inventions are the shinning pearls of world civilizations. Sino-US cultural exchanges date back to ancient times. Particularly when China and the USA established official relations 30 years ago, both sides continuously deepened education and culture exchanges and cooperation. Till now, there are about 85,000 Chinese students and visiting scholars in the USA. More than 12,000 American students were studying in China last year. Since 2004, the USA has established 46 Confucius Institutes. China and the USA have both entered a new age of language-teaching, cultural intercourse and cooperation, while improving the friendship of the two countries and helping maintain international peace.

‘Chinese Bridge for American Schools’ was sponsored by Hanban with the assistance of American College Board. Dr. Peter Negrono, senior vice president of the College Board, Ms. Ji Li An, cultural affairs officer from the Embassy of the United States in China, and representatives of Sino-US education departments successively addressed. 450 primary and secondary school principals and education officials from 44 American states attended the welcome ceremony.

In April, 2006, President Hu Jintao visited the USA. During the trip, Hanban and the College Board signed a cooperation agreement on a Chinese Language and Culture Project. “Chinese Bridge for American Schools” is one of the most important activities in this project, which is also the largest foreign educational exchange program so far. Currently, More than 1000 elementary and middle schools have opened Chinese lessons. Furthermore, the USA is also the country with the largest number of Confucius Institutes. Today, the number of Chinese-learning-students is more than 130,000, 3 times than that in 2004. Chinese has become the most rapidly advancing foreign language in the USA.

In the morning, representatives visited the China Exploratorium and chinese teaching resources exhibition on the first floor of the building of the confucius institute headquarters. In the evening, Hanban held a welcoming banquet and performances for the delegation.  Students from the Art Troupe of the Middle School Associated with Renmin University performed a brilliant program.

State councilor Liu Yandong meets with Dr. Peter Negroni, head of the American schools delegation 

State councilor Liu Yandong delivers a speech

The site of the welcome ceremony