June 14-18, 2014
Republic of Ireland, Dublin, University College Dublin (UCD)
On June 15-17, 2014 University College Dublin (UCD) has hosted 2014 Joint Conference of New Confucius Institutes in Europe. The delegates from the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban) and all the Confucius Institutes established in Europe over the last 3 years have convened in Dublin to share the experience of running the Institutes and promote their sustainable development.
The Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) has also been invited to participate. Grand opening of the BNTU Confucius Institute is scheduled for October 2014. The BNTU delegation has comprised:
- Prof. Dr. Khroustalev B.M., Rector of the BNTU, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus;
- Alekseev Y.G., Associate Professor of the BNTU "Economics and Research, Design and Manufacture Management" Department, PhD in Engineering (Instrumentation Engineering Faculty);
- Mr. Gorbash V.G., Head of the BNTU Center for International Programs, Ranking and Information Systems.
Mr. Liu Yunshan, a Member of the Central Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC, has attended the Opening Ceremony of the Conference and delivered the keynote speech. The Plenary Meeting has featured Hanban policy and basic programs. In the course of the Section Meetings, the delegates have discussed various issues of managing Confucius Institutes and teaching Chinese language.
The BNTU delegates have visited the Confucius Institute Exhibition. The Event has showcased the achievements of new European Confucius Institutes, books on teaching Chinese in European countries, and bidirectional translation dictionaries for Chinese and European languages.
Prof. Dr. Khroustalev B.M. has participated in the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Confucius Institute building in UCD Dublin. The Ceremony has united senior officials of Ireland and China:
- Mr. Ruairi Quinn, Minister for Education and Skills of Ireland;
- Mr. Liu Yunshan, a Member of the Central Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC, Chairman of the CPC Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization and President of the CPC Central Party School;
- Madam Xu Lin, Director-General of Hanban and Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters.
Within the framework of the Conference, Prof. Dr. Khroustalev B.M. and Madam Xu Lin have concluded the Agreement on Establishing Confucius Institute on Science and Technology at the BNTU.
The UCD Dublin students have given bright and colorful performances enabling the delegates to explore the depth and beauty of Chinese culture.
Besides, the Conference has contributed to establishing contacts between the BNTU and Confucius Institutes from Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.