Remarks at the First Global Confucius Institute Day

by Liu Yandong

Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Chair of the Council of the Confucius Institute Headquarters

September 27, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

Good morning!

I would like to thank His Excellency Ambassador Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, President Zhu Chongshi and Takhmina Inoyatova for their wonderful remarks. On such a beautiful Autumn day, we gathered together at the Confucius Institute Headquarters, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Confucius Institute, and to hold the launching ceremony of the first Global Confucius Institute Day, which is of great significance. Hereby, on behalf of Chinese government and Confucius Institute Headquarters, I would like to extend warm congratulations and sincere greetings to all the teachers and students in the Confucius Institute family. Also I would like to express warm welcome to all the guests, teachers and students present today!

The Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attach great importance to the first Global Confucius Institute Day, and send their congratulatory letters.

Next, I’d like to read for you the congratulatory letter by President Xi Jinping:

University Presidents and Confucius Institute Directors,

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Confucius Institute, I am very pleased to receive a letter signed by 286 university presidents and Confucius Institute directors of 90 countries and region, which informed me of the first ever global Confucius Institute Day to be held in five continents concurrently. I wish to extend my warm congratulations and sincere greetings to you and all the teachers and students of Confucius Institutes!

You said in your letter that Confucius Institutes have become an ongoing symbol for China’s efforts toward world peace and international cooperation, represent an essential link between the people of China and the citizens of other countries, and you are excited by the bright future we share, which I highly appreciate. During the past 10 years, Confucius Institutes have been vigorously providing Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange activities, playing an important role in promoting mutual learning between and among various civilizations in the world and strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese people and peoples of other countries. You have devoted tremendous passion and efforts to enhancing the dissemination of culture and knowledge as well as heart-to-heart communication between human beings. It is an endeavor of great significance.

The splendid cultures created by peoples of different countries are the shared treasures of mankind. We shall rejuvenate them in today’s world through exchanges and innovative development. Confucius Institutes belong to China, and they also belong to the world. Chinese government and people will consistently support the growth of Confucius Institutes. Let’s try our best to push forward the advancement of human civilizations and people’s heart-to-heart exchange, to jointly create a more beautiful tomorrow.

Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China. September 25 of 2014.

Now, I’d like to read for you the congratulatory letter by Premier Li Keqiang:

On the occasion of the first ever global Confucius Institute Day, I, on behalf of the Chinese government and in my own name, would like to extend my heart-felt congratulations!

In today’s world, we see deepened economic globalization and cultural diversity. To enhance exchanges and learning between various cultures and to strengthen the understanding among peoples of different countries are important approaches to push forward the advancement of civilization and the progress of society. Since the first Confucius Institute was established 10 years ago, it has made teaching Chinese language and introducing Chinese culture its mission, took into account local circumstances and needs, played a significant role in boosting people-to-people exchange between China and other countries and promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese people and citizens of other countries.

I wish that Confucius Institutes will act in accordance with the motto of “mutual respect, friendly discussion, equality and mutual benefit”, stick to a model of collaboration between Chinese and foreign educational institutions, constantly improve the quality of teaching and level of administration, deepen the blending of Chinese and foreign culture, inherit and carry forward the concept of “harmony is most precious” and “harmony without uniformity”, and make even greater contributions to enhancing the world civilization diversity and the harmonious development of peoples from all countries.

Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. September 26 of 2014.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,

The congratulatory letters of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang think highly of the unique role that Confucius Institutes have played in the past 10 years in education and culture exchanges between China and the world as well as the enhancement of friendships between Chinese people and peoples of different countries. It fully reflects the big emphasis and keen expectation for the Confucius Institutes by the Chinese government. Being very encouraging and inspiring, the letters give great momentum to the future development of CIs.

In the past decade, with joint efforts of all parties, CI started with Chinese language learning, strengthened understanding and friendship by means of culture exchanges, realized development by leaps and bounds, made remarkable achievements. They were so well received by the peoples, particularly the younger generations in the world, added a beautiful landscape to the exchange and learning of diversified human cultures, made important contributions to deepening the friendships between people of China and other countries. On behalf of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, I would like to take this opportunity to extend heart-felt gratitude to governments and peoples of different countries for their care and support. My thanks also go to all the university presidents, Confucius Institute directors, faculty and teachers, volunteers from China and aboard for your tremendous efforts and selfless dedication!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

This year marks the 2565th anniversary of Confucius’ birth. A few days ago, President Xi Jinping delivered a key-note speech at an international conference, which is concurrent with the Fifth Congress of the International Confucian Association (ICA). He said that the Confucian doctrines established by Confucius and the thoughts of Confucianism grew out of them have left deep impact on Chinese civilization. It is a significant component of Chinese traditional culture. Chinese civilization not only left profound impact on the development of China, but made enormous contributions to the advancement of civilization of all human beings as well.

It is of great significance to set up the Confucius Institute Day to strengthen the synergy and influence of Confucius Institutes while we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Confucius Institute. It is widely supported and positively responded by countries around the world, among them, over 400 universities and institutions from more than 100 countries sent letters of congratulations to us. Today, 465 Confucius Institutes and over 700 Confucius Classrooms of 123 countries in five continents are going to hold more than 3000 celebration activities concurrently, which will fully showcase the amazing achievements of Confucius Institutes and vividly demonstrate the charm of culture exchange and mix. New Zealand is one of the countries that see the sunrise first in a day. At 6:30am local time, Victoria University of Wellington welcomed the first glimmer of dawn with a time-honoured traditional ceremony on the beach, which started the Global Confucius Institute Day. Confucius Institutes of many other countries will kick off their own celebration one by one. University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S. will be the last one to hold the event. It is projected that more than 10 million people will take part in.

Being such a significant and happy day for all of us in the Confucius Institute family, today’s celebrations will be inspiring and spectacular, leave us with beautiful and unforgettable memories, and create a wonderful place in the history of Confucius Institute.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

We are in a time featured by exchanging and merging diversified civilizations. Dialogue and cooperation between different languages and cultures are becoming a trend. Chinese civilization has always being advocating “harmony is most precious”, “inclusiveness is prized”, and “tolerance is a great”. China has always persisted in equal treatment, openness and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win among different countries, actively expand people-to-people exchange and friendly communications. Since China’s opening-up and reform, there are more than 3 million Chinese students having studied abroad, 300 million are learning 65 different foreign languages. Meanwhile, in order to better meet the needs of learning Chinese language and culture by peoples in the world, we have strongly supported collaborations in Confucius Institutes. Thanks to Confucius Institutes’ advocacy and influence, the number of those who learn Chinese all over the world exceeds 100 million. In over 60 countries, Chinese language courses are included in their national education systems, over 200 institutions of 70 countries or so are applying for Confucius Institutes. Nowadays, Confucius Institute has become the “soul high-speed railway” connecting peoples of different countries and a colorful tie linking Chinese Dream and people’s dreams in other countries.

Looking forward to the future, I hope Confucius Institute will continue its mission and principle, deepen China and foreign cooperation, make efforts to be integrated into local communities, help more foreigners to understand China, carry on and boost friendships. Confucius Institutes shall exert themselves to improve teaching quality, enrich teaching contents, innovate teaching approaches, increase attractiveness and effectiveness, consolidate the foundation of language teaching and culture diffusion. Confucius Institutes shall grow with diversified features, innovate development concepts and methods, emphasize popularity and inclusiveness, play a better role of comprehensive culture exchange platform, promote exchange, mix and learning between and among all civilizations. It is also my hope that governments and peoples of all countries, including foreign diplomats and all sectors in China to continue your care and support for the growth of Confucius Institutes.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

Confucius Institute belongs to China, and also belongs to the world. Let us join hand in hand, try our best to make Confucius Institutes even more successful, write an even more brilliant new chapter, make new and even greater contributions to enhancing understanding and friendship between the Chinese and people of all countries, and pushing forward the prosperity and advancement of human civilization!