Confucius Institutes, as non-profit education organizations, devote themselves to satisfying the demands of people from different countries and regions in the world who learn the Chinese language, to enhancing understanding of the Chinese language and culture by these peoples, to strengthening educational and cultural exchange and cooperation between China and other countries, to deepening friendly relationships with other nations, to promoting the development of multi-culturalism, and to constructing a harmonious world. 

Confucius Institute is established to promote the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language and for different exchanges and co-operations, such as in educational and cultural fields, with the world. The services offered by Confucius Institute include: Chinese language teaching; training Chinese language instructors and providing Chinese language teaching resources; holding the HSK examination (Chinese Proficiency Test) and tests for the Certification of the Chinese Language Teachers; providing information and consultative services concerning China’s education, culture, and so forth; and conducting language and cultural exchange activities between China and other countries.

In the period up to October 2009, a total of 523 Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms have been established in 87 countries and regions over the world; among which 282 are Confucius Institutes in 84 countries. 70 in 28 Asian countries, 21 in 15 African countries, 94 in 29 European countries, 87 in 11 American countries and 10 in 2 Pacific Island countries, and 241 are Confucius Classrooms in 25 countries (Burma, Mali and the Bahamas have independent Confucius Classrooms, not affiliated with an institute): 27 in 10 Asian countries, 2 in 2 African countries, 34 in 7 European countries, 176 in 5 American countries and 2 in 1Pacific Island country.