The Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF) held the 2023 Global Confucius Institute Day event on the afternoon of September 27, 2023, with the theme of Believe in the Future, and Paint a Colorful Future Together. It was also the 10th Confucius Institute Day celebration.

The president of the CIEF, Yang Wei, who is also an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), delivered a speech at the event. As Yang Wei expressed, over the past 10 years of development, the Confucius Institute (CI) has witnessed a steady improvement in its teaching skills, an increase in dynamic cultural exchanges, and continuous enhancement of its service capabilities. The CIs and Confucius Classrooms worldwide are thriving and progressing against all odds. It is believed that with the joint efforts of the Chinese and foreign partners, the CI will create a better future for the international Chinese language education cause.

There were 26 Chinese and foreign directors of the Confucius Institutes in 18 countries who received the Medal for Long Service for 2023, including the United States, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, and Ecuador. They have served the CI with due diligence for over 10 years. While filled with enthusiasm and dedication to their work, they have made important contributions to the development of the CI. In addition, they have also harvested fantastic moments of their own in their personal lives. The Medal was established in 2021. Since then, 126 Chinese and foreign directors have been honored with this award.

There is an increasing interest among people overseas in learning Chinese and about Chinese culture. The CI welcomed the joining of another group of new members into its big family in 2023. Five newly established CIs were awarded their nameplate by the CIEF at the inauguration ceremony site, including the CI on Science and Technology at the University of Venda in South Africa, the CI at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, the CI at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, the CI at the University of Nis in Serbia, and the CI at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (Managua), of which Nicaragua set up a CI for the first time.

This event also unveiled the winners of the 2023 CI Moments Global Short Video Collection Event. A total of 351 videos from 102 CIs and Confucius Classrooms in 61 countries were collected for this year’s CI Moments Global Short Video Collection Event, with 111 award-winning videos selected in the end. The prize of an Excellent Participating Unit was awarded to 35 CIs. There were 12 individuals who won the CI’s Got Talent title. During the event, participants captured moments of cultural exchange with their cameras and showcased the warmth that underlies language communication and cultural integration. This highlights the unique role of CI in promoting mutual learning among civilizations and connecting people from all over the world.

A proposal was made by 320 representatives of directors from CIs around the world, prior to the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the CI brand. The proposal suggested that the CI celebrate the 2024 Global Confucius Institute Day with the theme At Twenty Years of Age, the CI is in Its Prime. It was suggested that members of the CI family take proactive steps daily to spread communication, mutual understanding, harmony, and friendship. Let all of us wish the CI a happy birthday!