Chinese Vice Education Minister Tian Xuejun visits UCD Confucius Institute

01 Mar 2019

UCD's Confucius Institute was awarded "Model Confucius Institute" during a visit to UCD by China's Vice-Minister for Education Tian Xuejun. During the visit to the newly-opened Confucius building, the Vice-Minister met with UCD President Andrew Deeks, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Yue Xiaoyong and UCD Confucius Institute Director Wang Liming.

Over 100 people including students and faculty staff of UCD Confucius Institute attended the ceremony. Established with the Beijing-based Renmin University of China in 2006, the UCD Confucius Institute is the one of the earliest Confucius Institutes and also among the first group of Model Confucius Institutes. During his speech, Vice-Minister Tian praised the unique role played by the institute in building the friendship between China and Ireland.

The teaching building of the UCD Confucius Institute where the unveiling ceremony was held is a symbol of the collaboration between UCD and China as well as the support that UCD Confucius Institute has received from the Irish and Chinese governments, said UCD President Andrew Deeks.

2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Ireland. As an important part of the bilateral relations, the educational exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have witnessed a strong growing momentum in recent years, said Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Yue Xiaoyong at the ceremony.