Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University Joins the "Ganqingning Regional Confucius Institutes (International Chinese Education) Alliance"

On December 24, 2024 the Gansu International Chinese Education Symposium and the inaugural meeting of the "Ganqingning Regional Confucius Institutes (International Chinese Education) Alliance" were successfully held at Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou. Representing the alliance’s member institutions, the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University (CI@TU) in Nepal actively participated in the event. Bal Ram Duwal (Bo Le), Nepal-side Acting Director of CI@TU, and Zhang Xingnian, the designated China-side Director, participated in the conference both online and in person.

The event featured keynote addresses by distinguished guests, including Yu Tianqi, Center for Language Education and Cooperation, Ministry of Education of China; Zhao Lingshan, Secretary-General of the Chinese International Education Foundation; Jia Ning, Party Secretary of Northwest Normal University; Bai Jiangping, Deputy Director of the Gansu Provincial Department of Education; Yang Haoran, Deputy Director of the Qinghai Provincial Department of Education; and representatives from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Department of Education. Valentina, Vice President of Free International University of Moldova , delivered her remarks via video. The conference was chaired by Wang Zhanren, President of Northwest Normal University.

The meeting highlighted that international Chinese education, as a key part of China's national and cultural strategy, plays a crucial role in advancing the country's goals of becoming a global leader in culture, education, and talent. The Departments of Education from Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia, in collaboration with 22 universities, have jointly established the "Ganqingning Regional Confucius Institutes (International Chinese Education) Alliance." This initiative is a strategic move to strengthen cooperation, as emphasized by the World Chinese Language Conference, and a significant step in implementing the Ministry of Education's provincial cooperation agreements. It is expected to further drive innovation and quality improvement in regional international Chinese education and promote collaborative development. The attendees collectively pressed the launch button, marking the official establishment of the "Ganqingning Regional Confucius Institutes (International Chinese Education) Alliance."

Bal Ram Duwal (Bo Le), the Nepal-side acting Director of the CI@TU in Nepal, jointly established by East China University of Technology and Qinghai Minzu University, shared his thoughts on the development of Confucius Institutes at universities in Nepal during the conference.

In his speech, Bal Ram Duwal (Bo Le) pointed out, "The establishment of the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University has played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Nepal. In a country like Nepal, rich in cultural heritage and history, the establishment of the Confucius Institute not only opens up new avenues for educational cooperation but also serves as an important bridge for cultural diplomacy.” Further, he elaborated the challenges and opportunities Confucius Institute’ faces, and discussed its future direction for high-quality growth.

The Confucius Institute initiative in Nepal began in 2007, when the first Confucius Institute was established at Kathmandu University. In 2011, the LRI Confucius Classrooms were successively set up. On October 13, 2019, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal, he and then-Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari jointly witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Tribhuvan University, marking a new chapter in China-Nepal relations. In March 2020, the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University, jointly established by East China University of Technology and Qinghai Minzu University, was officially approved, laying an important foundation for cultural exchange between China and Nepal. On August 16, 2022, the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University was officially inaugurated in Kathmandu, ushering in a new phase of educational and cultural cooperation between China and Nepal.

Photo/Text: Zhang Xingnian and Wang Lisha