Delegation from the Confucius Institute at Hokuriku University Visits Confucius Institute Headquarters

On the morning of September 7th, Heiseikenchushi, the delegation of the Confucius Institute at Hokuriku University in Japan, visited the Confucius Institute Headquarters.

Ma Jianfei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Deputy Director-General of Hanban, meeting with President of Hokuriku University and representatives of the delegation

Ma Jianfei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Deputy Director-General of Hanban, met with President of Hokuriku University and representatives of the delegation. Ma Jianfei said that, as a quality project of the Confucius Institute at Hokuriku University, Heiseikenchushi has won global reputation. The year 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, which highlights the significance of the delegation’s visit. The friendship between China and Japan depends on the friendship between the two peoples and the future of the friendship shall count on the younger generation. He hoped that the Confucius Institute at Hokuriku University can develop a new type of quality project based on Heiseikenchushi, promote the Confucius Institute to improve quality and effect and further explore the connotation of education, thus making greater contributions to the communication of the two peoples, especially the younger generations of the two countries.

Ogura Tsutomu, Chairman of the Board and President of Hokuriku University, said that, thanks to the support of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and friendly universities in China, the Confucius Institute at the university has sent delegations to China for 11 consecutive years. In the new era, the theme of the visit to China has changed from “experiencing Chinese culture” to “learning from China”. Members of the delegations harvest every time. Therefore, the institute would continue to dispatch delegations to China and promote the friendship among youngsters from both countries.

Xia Jianhui, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, giving a speech

The Confucius Institute Headquarters held a grand welcome ceremony for the delegation and Xia Jianhui, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, delivered a welcome speech. He began with giving thanks to Hokuriku University for continuously dispatching delegations to China. He also showed gratitude to Beijing Language and Culture University, Tianjin Foreign Studies University and Capital University of Physical Education and Sports for their strong support. Xia Jianhui believed that Chinese culture and Japanese culture share some similarities but they also differentiate from each other. Since seeing is believing, people will not have a full understanding of these differences until they experience them themselves. Through firsthand experience, people can broaden their horizons and enrich knowledge and they would be closer to each other and become more inclusive, thus enhancing the appreciation and friendship. He truly hoped that everyone can harvest during the visit to China.

A group photo

Qi Dexiang, Vice President of Beijing Language and Culture University, and Qi Lixin, Vice President of Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, delivered their welcome addresses. Later, the representative of the delegation addressed thanks in Chinese and all members of the delegation sang the Chinese song Love. At last, all the attendees took group photos and the welcome ceremony ended in a joyful atmosphere.

The Heiseikenchushi program started in 1994, aiming to facilitate Japanese youngsters to learn a real China. The program now has been an important project to encourage friendly exchanges between the youngsters from China and Japan, which has attracted 1432 participants in total. In 2017, the program has dispatched five delegations to such cities as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Suzhou. These delegations exchanged with teachers and students in China’s universities in the fields including language and culture, pharmacy, education and sports (especially table tennis and basketball).