Confucius Institute celebrates its 16th Anniversary today at Kathmandu University, Balkumari. Confucius Institute in Kathmandu University (CIKU) is Nepal's first Confucius Institute and it is also the first Confucius Institute co-established with foreign countries and unveiled by Hebei general universities.
It organized a seminar on Nepal-China Education Cultural Exchange and Development in joint collaboration with China Study Center, Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Council and China Culture Center in Nepal.
The event focuses on cultural exchange and development between Nepal and China, international Chinese language education and its importance along with others.
DCM Mr. Wang Xin, from an Embassy of China to Nepal commenced the program by lightning the lamp.
Prof. Dr. Achyut Wagle Registrar, Director of Confucius Institute at Kathmandu highlights a saying, "After one reaches 16 years of old without legal damage, then you become the threshold of the country", signifying that the institute has become mature with its 16th anniversary.
Wang Liqian, vice president of the Education Department of Hebei Province, said that Hebei attaches great importance to the construction of overseas Confucius Institutes. The Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University is the first Confucius Institute established by a university in Hebei Province, and is the leader and pioneer of the Confucius Institute family in Hebei Province. He also hoped that while consolidating and expanding cooperation in Chinese education, the two universities will actively expand cooperation areas, so as to add vitality to the promotion of cultural and people-to-people exchanges and the deepening of integrated development between the two countries.
Focusing on China's emergence as a global power house, Mr. Leela Mani Poudel, former Nepalese Ambassador to China puts light on possibility of increment in trade, investment, tourism between two countries China and Nepal. As the demand and importance of learning Chinese language has been growing significantly, he is thankful to the Chinese government for generously offering scholarships to the hundreds of students every year.
Mr. Poudel regards The Confucius Institute of Kathmandu University (CIKU) which has been conducting the required test to provide with certificates in order to facilitate the students seeking admission in Chinese university, is fostering shared goal of promoting culture, understanding and building strong people to people relationship.
Wang Xin, political counselor at the Chinese embassy in Nepal, said the Chinese embassy will continue to work hand in hand with the Nepali government and people from all walks of life to jointly implement the Global Civilization Initiative and create a better Chinese language learning environment for Nepali friends.
And China is also willing to strengthen educational cooperation with Nepal and train various talents for the country's development, Wang added.
Gao Xiaofeng, vice president of Hebei University of Economics and Trade, said that，the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University has made outstanding achievements in localization, standardized management and distinctive development, and was awarded the title of "Advanced Confucius Institute" at the Confucius Institute Conference in 2018.
Bhola Thapa, Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University, expressed about several activities Confucius institute has been conducting to open greater doors for connecting to prosperous education of China. He addresses, "Language could be good assets to please the Chinese tourist as China is contributing to level up itself to topmost source of tourism in Nepal". He further adds, "Through Confucius Institute we would have more linkage with government, people and academia of China". He strongly believes that it can extend our cooperation into the field of science and technology making Nepalese happy and prosperous.
Cultural performances were integrated to enliven the event and the celebration. Playing of violin, reciting of poem in Chinese language about Nepal and Nepalese culture enhanced the feeling of contentment among audience. Xiaolin Nepal's students performed Chinese Kungfu reflecting the talents and growing shared culture of Kungfu in Nepalese society. Chinese tea culture was explicitly represented conducting it skillfully by the Nepalese students in respect to Chinese tea culture.
