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Fifth Anniversary of the Confucius Institute Celebrated Successfully in Prague

Nov 17, 2023

On November 14, the Confucius Institute at the University of Finance and Administration (VSFS) in Prague, established in collaboration with China Jiliang University, held a grand fifth-anniversary celebration in Prague, Czech Republic. The event was attended by Feng Biao, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic; Jiang Yupeng, Head of the Education Section at the Chinese Embassy; Petr Mrhálek, Vice Chairman of the Czech-Chinese Friendship Association; Bohuslava Šenkýřová, President and Chair of the Board of the VSFS; Emil Šenkýř, Vice Chairman of the Board; Petr Budinský, Vice President; and Wang Binrui, Vice President of China Jiliang University. Zhao Lingshan, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Chinese International Education Foundation, sent a congratulatory letter. The celebration was attended by over 200 guests, including representatives of the VSFS faculty and students, Confucius Institute staff and students, representatives of the Chinese community in the Czech Republic, Chinese enterprises, media, and various social sectors.

In his speech, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Feng Biao, extended his heartfelt congratulations on the fifth anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague. He remarked that the five-year journey of the Confucius Institute is a reflection of the growing friendship between China and the Czech Republic, exemplifying mutually beneficial cooperation between two nations with different historical, cultural backgrounds, and social systems. Over the past five years, the Confucius Institute at the University of Finance and Administration has diligently developed, launching a series of impactful Chinese language education and cultural exchange activities that have significantly contributed to enhancing linguistic and cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries. Ambassador Feng emphasized that the Embassy will continue to support the development of Chinese language education in the Czech Republic and encourage more cultural exchange activities. He expressed the hope that all sectors of society in both countries will continue to support the development of China-Czech relations, which reflects the shared aspirations of both peoples.

Bohuslava Šenkýřová, President and Chair of the Board at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague, reflected on the history of cooperation between the two universities. She emphasized that the strong support from the leadership of both China and the Czech Republic, along with the dedicated collaboration between both institutions, has been instrumental in the successful development of the Confucius Institute. Šenkýřová noted that the Institute has gained widespread support and affection from the people of Prague and across the Czech Republic. The Chinese language education and cultural exchange activities conducted by the Confucius Institute have significantly contributed to the educational cooperation between the two universities and have fostered cultural exchange between China and the Czech Republic. She affirmed that the University of Finance and Administration in Prague will fully support the ongoing construction and development of the Confucius Institute and will work closely with China Jiliang University to ensure its continued success.

Vice President Wang Binrui highlighted that the support from both nations' leaders has laid a solid foundation for the development of the Confucius Institute. The strong collaboration, mutual trust, and support between the two universities have provided significant momentum for the Institute's growth. He acknowledged the guidance and support from the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic and the leadership of the University of Finance and Administration in Prague, as well as the backing from various sectors of Czech society and the Chinese community in the Czech Republic. Thanks to the collective efforts of all Confucius Institute faculty and students, the Institute has steadily expanded, with a significant increase in student enrollment, a rich variety of cultural activities, and growing recognition in society. Wang emphasized that the Confucius Institute has increasingly become a vital bridge for friendship and cooperation between the two universities. On behalf of China Jiliang University, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to the embassy officials, the leadership, faculty, and students of the University of Finance and Administration in Prague, and friends from all walks of life. He reaffirmed the university's commitment to supporting and promoting the high-quality development of the Confucius Institute, striving to create a unique Confucius Institute with a "Standardization + Finance" focus.

Zhao Lingshan, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese International Education Foundation, sent a congratulatory letter on behalf of the Foundation, warmly celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague. The letter expressed heartfelt thanks to all friends who have long supported the development of the Confucius Institute. It noted that since its establishment, the Confucius Institute at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague, with the joint support of China Jiliang University and the University of Finance and Administration, has offered courses such as Business Chinese and Financial Chinese. Additionally, it has organized academic activities such as the "Financial Insights" lectures and the Sino-Czech Language Teaching and Translation Seminar. These efforts have contributed significantly to nurturing local "Chinese + Finance" professionals and promoting educational and cultural exchanges between China and the Czech Republic. The letter concluded with sincere wishes for the Confucius Institute's continued success and growth.

Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute Jiang Hui provided an overview of the institute's development, highlighting key achievements over the past five years. The number of Chinese language learners has steadily increased, the summer camps for children and teenagers have grown in popularity, and the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) organized by the institute has attracted students from the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. The institute's tri-lingual (Chinese, Czech, and English) journal has garnered widespread attention, significantly enhancing the institute's reputation and visibility. More people are now interested in learning Chinese and exploring Chinese culture through the Confucius Institute. Looking ahead, the institute is committed to improving the quality of Chinese language instruction to meet learners' needs, enriching cultural activities, and fostering Sino-Czech cultural exchanges and cooperation. The institute aims to strengthen its role as a bridge, promoting academic and educational collaboration between the two universities, and contributing to the deepening of Sino-Czech relations.

The event concluded with the entire Confucius Institute team expressing gratitude to the leaders and friends from all walks of life who have supported the institute's development. Ambassador Feng and leaders from both universities were then invited to jointly cut the cake in celebration of the Confucius Institute's fifth anniversary.

The celebration featured a vibrant cultural performance, showcasing a variety of acts, including a dragon dance and martial arts display by the Czech Martial Arts Association, a traditional costume show by the Qipao Association, a demonstration of the Yi Jin Jing exercises by the Czech Traditional Chinese Medicine Cultural Center, calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting exhibitions, and a Guzheng performance by the Calligraphy Association. Additionally, the Czech Folk Art Troupe performed Moravian and Slovak songs and dances, and there was a collaborative musical performance by Chinese and Czech children. The event was filled with a festive and lively atmosphere, with guests and friends from various sectors expressing their best wishes for the continued success and growth of the Confucius Institute at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague.