A total of 39 foreign directors of Confucius Institutes from 25 countries, including the US, UK, Switzerland, Estonia and Latvia, started a training program in Shanghai this month. The program is intended to give participants a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and further promote the development of Confucius Institutes worldwide.

The workshop was held at East China Normal University, the first university in China to establish a center to cultivate expertise in teaching Chinese as a foreign language and promotion of Chinese culture.

During the nine-day workshop, the directors study various aspects of China, such as culture, philosophy, traditional medicine, diplomacy and the Chinese economy. They will also make field trips throughout the city.

"Confucius Institutes work as a cultural bridge between China and the world," said Xu Lin, director-general of the office of the Chinese Language Council International and chief executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing, known as Hanban. "These foreign directors have played an important role in promoting the institutes' development and innovation throughout the world."

The exchanges and study in China are intended to help these foreign directors deliver Chinese culture more comprehensively and deeply, Xu said.

The Confucius Institute was named for the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC) and serves as a non-profit, government-funded institution whose mission is to help foreigners better understand China and facilitate international cultural exchanges through teaching Chinese language and culture at universities across the world.

In June 2004, China established a pilot institute in Uzbekistan, and then opened the first Confucius Institute in November 2004 in Seoul.

To date, China has opened 465 Confucius Institutes in 123 countries and regions, with nearly one million registered students. Meanwhile, 713 Confucius Classrooms are operated in middle and primary schools globally.

Last month, Confucius Institutes the world over celebrated the first Confucius Institute Day on the 10th anniversary of the institutes' establishment.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory letter encouraging Confucius Institutes to further improve their teaching and promote the diversity of world cultures, according to Xinhua News Agency.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 10/17/2014 page6)