Between November 15–17, 2024, a delegation from the Free International University of Moldova (ULIM), comprising the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Dr. Valentina Ciumacenco, and the Director of ULIM’s Confucius Institute, Mr. Wang Yifeng, participated in the anniversary edition of the World Chinese Language Conference held in Beijing under the auspices of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.
This year’s conference, themed “Interconnection, Integration, Heritage, Innovation” and dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute worldwide, attracted nearly 2,000 participants from over 160 countries and regions. Attendees included representatives of educational authorities, international organizations, universities, language and cultural promotion agencies, as well as experts, researchers, diplomats, and business leaders.
During the opening ceremony, China’s Vice President, Mr. Han Zheng, read a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping addressed to all participants on the occasion of the Confucius Institute’s 20th anniversary. President Xi highlighted that:
“The Chinese language embodies the wisdom of over 5,000 years of the Chinese nation’s civilization and represents an important cultural asset offered by China to the world. Mutual understanding of language and culture forms the basis for strengthening interpersonal relations, eliminating prejudice, and fostering tolerance and respect for diverse beliefs and ways of life, ultimately laying the foundation for building a global civilization.”
The ULIM delegation actively participated in the conference proceedings and associated activities, discussing high-standard practical cooperation in cultural exchanges between China and international partners.
On the second day of the conference, ULIM Vice-Rector Valentina Ciumacenco delivered a presentation during the panel “Volunteer Chinese Teachers: Professional Development and Core Competencies” on the topic “Teaching Chinese in the Republic of Moldova: The Role and Contribution of Volunteer Chinese Language Lecturers at ULIM’s Confucius Institute.” The presentation included several sections: an overview of ULIM’s Confucius Institute (2009-present), the current state of Chinese language teaching, the crucial role of the Confucius Institute in promoting Chinese language and culture, the contribution and impact of the 16 teaching centers under ULIM’s Confucius Institute, the role of Chinese teaching staff involved in volunteer programs, and their key competencies and professional development.
The event aimed to deepen cooperation and build consensus, promoting innovative, high-quality development and international education in the Chinese language while contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable global community with a shared future for humanity.
As part of the conference, an exhibition titled “Extraordinary 20 Years” was opened to the public, showcasing the educational achievements of the Confucius Institute over the past two decades. According to the exhibition, 499 Confucius Institutes and 764 Confucius Classrooms have been established in 161 countries and regions, helping over 20 million students learn Chinese, with 85 countries incorporating Chinese into their national education systems.
During their visit to Beijing, the ULIM delegation also held a working meeting with representatives of their partner institution, Northwest Normal University (NWNU) in Lanzhou, China. The meeting included NWNU President Mr. Wang Zhanren, Director of the Department of Cultural Exchange and International Cooperation (DCSCI) Mr. Tian He, and Deputy Director of DCSCI, Ms. Sun Mei.
Details of the conference program and additional event information are available at this link:
