Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao Visits Confucius Institute at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal

On May 8th, local time, Li Yuanchao, Vice President of China visited the Confucius Institute at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal, accompanied by Zhang Xun, Chinese Ambassador to Senegal, Du Zhanyuan, Vice Minister of Education, Xu Yanhao, Vice Chairman of China Association for Science and Technology, Qian Hongshan, Assistant Foreign Minister, Wang Bingnan, Assistant Minister of Commerce, Mary Teuw Niane, Higher Education and Research Minister of Senegal, Ibrahima Thioub, President of Cheikh Anta Diop University, Special Adviser to President of Senegal and Senegalese Ambassador to China.

A girl presenting flowers to Li Yuanchao

Bathed in the sunshine and warm sea breeze outside, the building of Confucius Institute at Cheikh Anta Diop University is decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, and the national flags of China and Senegal fluttered in the wind. Teachers and students, with great joy, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the distinguished Chinese guests coming from afar.

Du Zhanyuan, Vice Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education of Senegal unveiling the nameplate of the building

At about 9 a.m., Vice President Li Yuanchao and his delegation received a warm welcome from Senegalese government representatives, university administration as well as teachers and students from the Confucius Institute upon arrival. Li Yuanchao praised the girl dressed in Wolof dress for her good Chinese pronunciation when she presented flowers to him and greeted him in fluent Chinese. Walking across a red carpet, Li Yuanchao came to the building of the Confucius Institute built with the aid of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The traditional red-and-white courtyard building looked gorgeous against the blue sky. Witnessed by Li Yuanchao, Vice Minister of Education Du Zhanyuan and Minister of Higher Education of Senegal unveiled the nameplate of the building together.

Li Yuanchao visiting the photo exhibition of the Confucius Institute’s achievements in education

Later, in the right corridor on the first floor, Li Yuanchao watched the photos showing the Confucius Institute’s achievements in education and students’ calligraphy works. After the brief introduction to the development of Confucius Institutes by Hanban officials, Li spoke highly of students’ achievement in Chinese and Chinese calligraphy. In the library, 6 students who were about to participate in the “Chinese Bridge” competition were receiving pre-competition coaching. Li Yuanchao talked to Chinese teachers and volunteers kindly, inquired about the general situation of the teaching staff and volunteer groups, and encouraged them to study diligently and to carry out teaching-related research.

Li Yuanchao talking with students in the library

Afterwards, Li Yuanchao successively visited the junior class and senior class, which were respectively taught by local Chinese teachers and teachers from China, and inquired about teachers’ tenure, the number of students, and the length of schooling. He also had warm interactions with students, guided their pronunciation with the classic Chinese quotations such as “Isn’t a delight should friends visit from afar?” and “A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near,” and introduced Chinese cultural thoughts to them. Besides, Li Yuanchao encouraged students to take the initiative to know China and the world through learning Chinese so as to meet the new development opportunities brought by the Sino-Senegalese cooperation. Then Li Yuanchao and his delegation stepped in the Multifunctional Hall and merrily gathered with the teachers and students from the Confucius Institute at Cheikh Anta Diop University and representatives from all walks of life. President of the university delivered a warm welcoming speech, after which students there presented an affectionate poem recitation of Snow—to the Tone of Qin Yuan Chun and staged a cheerful song Hard Works Equals Win in Wolof and a passionate Chinese song Great China, wining prolonged applause.

A group photo of Li Yuanchao and students who have participated in the performance

Afterwards, Li Yuanchao delivered an important speech, indicating that the university, which is the first higher-learning institution in Senegal as well as one of the universities with the largest number of students, has brought up excellent talents to Africa, including three incumbent African presidents. The Confucius Institute was jointly established by Liaoning University and Cheikh Anta Diop University. Since its establishment, the institute, with the joint efforts of China and Senegal, had actively promoted the dissemination of Chinese culture and Sino-Senegalese culture communication. As a bond of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, it had made great contributions to mutual understanding and friendship between China and Senegal.

Li Yuanchao stressed that he was moved by the Senegalese’s passion for Chinese culture and their friendship to Chinese people. With the new teaching building, Senegalese people enjoy better conditions for learning Chinese culture. In order to play a greater role in Sino-Senegalese cooperation, the Confucius Institute should try to expand its teaching fields, he added. He also thanked the people from all walks of the two countries for their support to the development of the institute, and wished a better future of Confucius Institute. He also hoped students could work hard and contribute to friendship between the two countries.

Li Yuanchao presenting cultural experiencing equipment and books to institute

At the end of his visit, on behalf of the Chinese government, Vice President Li Yuanchao presented five sets of Chinese culture experiencing equipments and 2,000 reading materials on Chinese culture to the Confucius Institute, and took photos with students.