Antigua and Barbuda, May 24, 2024 — On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute, the Closing Ceremony of the Pre-Service Training for Chinese Directors of Confucius Institutes in the First Half of 2024, hosted by the Chinese International Education Foundation and organized by Dalian University of Foreign Languages, was successfully held at the International Cultural Exchange Center. The training aimed to enhance the professional quality and international perspective of the newly appointed directors, injecting new momentum into the future development of Confucius Institutes.

At the ceremony, Zhao Lingshan, Secretary-General of the Chinese International Education Foundation, delivered a congratulatory video message, expressing his appreciation for the opportunity provided to the trainees and emphasizing the significant role of Confucius Institutes in global Chinese language education and cultural exchange. Wang Weichen, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Dalian University of Foreign Languages, Liu Fengguang, Vice President of Dalian University of Foreign Languages, and relevant department heads from the Foundation and the university also attended the event.

Lili Juan, Director of the Confucius Institute of Antigua and Barbuda, and Kang Wenjing, a representative from the Europe and America class, spoke on behalf of the participating directors. They expressed their gratitude to the Chinese International Education Foundation for the valuable opportunity and to Dalian University of Foreign Languages for its careful organization of the training. They noted that the training covered various aspects, including international situations, Sino-foreign cooperation, diplomatic etiquette, and curriculum development, and provided psychological construction and professional guidance, which were invaluable in helping them fully understand and prepare for their future work.

The two directors mentioned that the psychological construction and professional guidance during the training had transformed them from feeling apprehensive to being confident, and they had greatly improved their professional quality and international perspective. They pledged to maintain a high sense of responsibility and mission, strive to do a good job in the management of Confucius Institutes, actively engage in Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange activities, and make their own contributions to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.

The training also included a visit and exchange session, where the directors visited the English School, Advanced Translation School, European Language School, Information Technology Center, and International Chinese Language Education Building of Dalian University of Foreign Languages. Additionally, eight former directors shared their experience of managing Confucius Institutes, providing valuable practical guidance for the trainee directors.

After the training, 65 Chinese Directors from 54 Chinese partner institutions nationwide will shoulder the responsibility and mission of promoting Chinese culture and work in Confucius Institutes in 40 countries around the world. As one of them, the Confucius Institute of Antigua and Barbuda will continue to promote Chinese language education and Chinese culture, making positive contributions to enhancing friendship and cultural exchange between China and other countries.