Confucius Institute Headquarters Works Together with University of The Gambia to Establish Confucius Institute

On December 21st, 2017, at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Adama Barrow of Gambia, who was in China for a state visit. President Xi Jinping emphasized that the two countries should strengthen non-governmental exchanges in various fields, including culture, education, media, youth, women, health, and tourism,. We should make joint efforts to well build the Confucius Institute and cement the foundation of the public opinion for furthering the friendship between the two countries. After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Agreement on the Establishing a Confucius Institute at the University of The Gambia, by Ma Jianfei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, and Fye K. Ceesay, Gambian Ambassador to China.

The Two Heads of State Jointly Witness the Signing of the Agreement

The University of The Gambia, established in 1999, is the highest seat of learning in Gambia with 250 faculty members and staff and over 4,000 enrolled students on 3 campuses. The University of The Gambia consists of 11 schools, including School of Business and Public Administration, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Information Technology and Communications, School of Agriculture and Environment Sciences, School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, School of Education, Faculty of Law, School of Journalism and Digital Media, School of Engineering and Architectures, School of Nursing and Reproductive Health, and School of Public Environmental Health. So far, however, no Chinese courses are offered in the university.

Located in western Africa, the area the Republic of the Gambia covers is 11,295 square meters with a population of 2 million. Its capital city is Banjul with English as official language. China and Gambia reestablished diplomatic relations in March, 2016. The Confucius Institute at the University of The Gambia would be the first of its kind in the country and its Chinese cooperative partner is Guizhou University.