The 2022 International Chinese Language Education Conference was held from December 8 to 10. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attended the conference and delivered a keynote speech. The opening ceremony was moderated by Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education. Du Peng, Vice President of Renmin University of China, attended the opening ceremony and visited the exhibition of international Chinese education.
Sun Chunlan pointed out that the demand for Chinese language learning across the world continues to flourish. This has vigorously promoted people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and abroad. Going forward, China is willing to engage in extensive cooperation with governments, schools, enterprises and social organizations around the world to promote international Chinese language education standards, so as to better meet the needs of people from different countries to learn Chinese.
Huai Jinpeng welcomed the participation of all the guests. He also extended a sincere welcome and heartfelt gratitude to people who have long supported the development of international Chinese language education, saying that China will continue to strengthen international exchange and cooperation in education and improve the contribution of Chinese education to world education.
At the opening ceremony, Eduardo Frei, former President of Chile, Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education of the United Arab Emirates, Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, and Jean Louis Robinson, Ambassador of Madagascar to China also delivered speeches. Congratulatory messages from education partners around the world was broadcast out to the guests.
The award ceremony of “Chinese Bridge”, the 2022 World Chinese Language Competition, was held at the opening ceremony. Students from Confucius Institute co-established by Renmin University of China won several national championships in the competition for college and high school students. Their performance in the 2nd Chinese-Bridge Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students was also encouraging: Nenyasha Kayla Chikuku from the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe won the first prize in Africa; Edoardo Franco Bassoli from the Confucius Institute at the University of Bologna, Italy, and Livia Matul and Ella Gorman, students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Dublin, Ireland, won the first prize in Europe.
The opening ceremony also unveiled new projects for international Chinese education. This year’s International Chinese Language Education Exchange Week will last until December 22nd.