Chairman of the CPPCC Wang Yang Visits Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi

From June 16th to 19th, local time, Wang Yang, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), paid an official goodwill visit to Kenya at the invitation of Justin Muturi, Speaker of Kenyan National Assembly. The chorus of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi was invited to sing Chinese songs.

The chorus sang beautifully with great articulation and full emotion, winning applause from the audience. Wang Yang warmly greeted the chorus, giving full recognition and appreciation for their performance. He also affirmed that the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi had made great achievements in international education of Chinese language, dissemination of Chinese culture as well as promotion of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Wang Yang greeting the chorus

Wang Yang pointed out that China-Kenya friendly exchanges have gained strong momentum and that China-Kenya cooperation has become a model for China-Africa cooperation. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kenya. Bilateral relations have entered an era of in-depth development. The Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi should play the role as an integrated platform, highlighting educational and technological collaboration between China and Kenya. The Institute should deepen its connotation building and help Kenya achieve its “Four Major Development Goals”. The Institute should bring its own advantages into full play to promote bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and make new contributions to the enhancement of social and friendly public opinion foundation between the two countries.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi has won the title “Confucius Institute of the Year” for six consecutive times since its establishment in 2005. In 2014, it won “Confucius Institution Pioneer Award”, and in 2015 it was honored as the “Global Model Confucius Institute”. It has made significant achievements in training local Chinese teachers, fostering model students, developing Chinese curricula, promoting Chinese as an optional language course in primary and secondary schools in Kenya, and facilitating the organization of students’ associations. It has trained a large number of outstanding graduates, who have become participants and promoters in building a community of shared future in Kenya, dedicating themselves to the modernization of Kenya and writing a new chapter in the era of the Belt and Road.

Xia Baolong, Vice Chairman and Secretary-general of the CPPCC, was present at the above activities.