Prof. Dr. Li Shuangcheng
Today, on this great significate occasion, we gather here joyfully to jointly celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Confucius Institute globally and the 17th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University. First of all, on behalf of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, please allow me to extend the warmest welcome and the most sincere gratitude to all the guests present at today’s opening ceremony.
In June 2004, China initiated cooperation with foreign institutions to establish Confucius Institutes at overseas. The Confucius Institute in Seoul, South Korea was officially inaugurated and became the first Confucius Institute in the world to commence operation. After 20 years of steady development, according to statistics as of October 31, 2024, there are a total of 499 Confucius Institutes and 764 Confucius Class rooms across the 161 countries and regions, with a cumulative number of more than 20 million students, making it one of the largest and most influential language and cultural education institutions globally.
In terms of educational exchange and cooperation, it has promoted in-depth collaboration between Chinese and foreign educational institutions, cultivated a large number of local Chinese language teachers, actively advanced academic research related to the Chinese language and culture as well as interdisciplinary cooperation, and innovated educational service models in this digital age, providing convenient and efficient learning channels for Chinese language learners around the world. It plays an irreplaceable and important role as a bridge and bond in multiple dimensions such as language and culture dissemination, education promotion, and international exchanges.
Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University (CIKU) was established on June 13, 2007. It is jointly established with Hebei University of Economics and Business in China and Kathmandu University in Nepal. It is the first Confucius Institute established overseas by Hebei Province. Through the dedicated efforts of successive directors, Chinese and Nepali teachers, and volunteer teachers, the Confucius Institute has achieved remarkable results, making significant contributions to cultural exchange between Nepal and China And Its teaching sectors continues to expand.
At present, CIKU has four Confucius classrooms and the other 31 teaching points, including primary schools, secondary schools and universities, and also have running nine social classes. There are currently 19 Nepalese teachers and seven Chinese teachers, and the number of registered students exceeds 5,000.
In the past 17 years, with the strong support of Center for Language Education and Cooperation, Ministry of Education of China, International Chinese Language Education Foundation, Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Hebei University of Economics and Business and Kathmandu University, CIKU has achieved outstanding results in Chinese language teaching, cultural exchanges, and characteristic projects of “Chinese + vocational education”. It has trained more than 50,000 Nepalese students and has successively won the honors such as “Advanced Confucius Institute” and Excellent HSK test center in global arena.
While conducting traditional Chinese language teaching and spreading outstanding Chinese culture, CIKU is also actively seeking distinctive development directions, including the elite education and degree education for students. Especially, We are constantly exploring new ideas for development in the aspect of “Chinese + vocational education”. CIKU have successively launched different vocational training programs such as “Chinese + Chinese Cuisine”, “Chinese + Tour Guiding”, “Chinese + Business”, “Chinese + Agriculture” and “Chinese + Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture”.
CIKU as an important platform for educational and cultural exchanges between Nepal and China, actively plays a bridging role and promotes international cooperation and exchanges. It actively organizes student summer camp and educator groups to visit, tour, study and exchange in China. It also actively arranges Chinese students summer camps to conduct research and study in Nepal and helps Chinese students to pursue master’s and doctor’s degrees at Kathmandu University.
Here, I sincerely thank our friends for your long-term concern and support for the CIKU. I believe that with the joint efforts of all, the CIKU will continue to move forward steadily on the path of China-Nepal cultural exchanges and become a bridge and bond for the hearts of two countries peoples to be connected and for the friendship that last forever. Let’s work hand in hand and take this celebration as a new starting point to jointly create an even better future for the Confucius Institute! Finally, I wish this opening ceremony a complete success! May all the guests enjoy good health and smooth work! Thank you all!
(Speech by Prof. Li, Director of Kathamandu University Confucius Institute, at the opening ceremoney of 20th Confucius Institute Day with “Brillliance of Confucianism” at Jyapu Samaj, Lalitpur on 22 Dec. 2024)
