Third CEEC Confucius Institutes Summer Camp Kicks Off in Beijing

On July 18th, 2018, the opening ceremony of the 3rd Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Confucius Institutes Summer Camp hosted by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) was held at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The opening ceremony was attended by 760 primary and middle school as well as university students from 28 Confucius Institutes in 15 CEEC, Zhao Guocheng, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Deputy Director-General of Hanban, Peng Long, President of Beijing Foreign Studies University, diplomatic envoys to China from 10 CEEC and representatives of some Chinese universities.

Zhao Guocheng pointed out in his speech that the Confucius Institute, as an important platform for people-to-people and cultural exchanges, has played a critical part in promoting mutual understanding between the people of China and the CEEC and in enhancing the friendship between China and the CEEC. The Summer Camp in China, the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese competition, the “Confucius China Studies Program” and other projects launched by the Confucius Institute Headquarters have been warmly welcomed by young students across the world. He expressed that the Confucius Institute Headquarters will continue to invite and support outstanding youngsters from the CEEC to visit and study in China so as to make greater contributions to improving mutual understanding, deepening cooperation in education and young people as well as to promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity between China and the CEEC.

Zhao Guocheng, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Deputy Director-General of Hanban, delivering a speech

Darko Pajovic, Montenegrin Ambassador to China, said that the traditional friendship between China and the CEEC is the foundation for promoting cooperation in various fields between the two sides. With the joint efforts of both sides, the Confucius Institute will surely become an important platform for cultural and educational exchanges between China and the CEEC, and will promote friendly cooperation between both sides to a higher level.

Darko Pajovic, Montenegrin Ambassador to China, giving a speech

Peng Long pointed out in his speech that under the advance of the Belt and Road Initiative, the cooperation between China and the CEEC has yielded fruitful results and made positive contributions to building a community of shared future for mankind. He encouraged the camp members to put more thought into observing the convenience of life brought by the “Internet Plus”, and strive to be the “bridge builders” between the Chinese and European civilizations in the future.

Peng Long, President of Beijing Foreign Studies University, delivering a speech

After then, Chinese and foreign students respectively staged brilliant performances with unique national characteristics. The representatives of the camp members performed a guzheng solo “Fishing Boat In The Sunset”, a fan dance “Moonlight Over The Lotus Pond”, a ballet “Velvet Flowers”, a song with dance “Rap and Beijing Opera.” and other performances with unique Chinese elements, expressing their in-depth understanding and insight of the Chinese language and culture, which left a deep impression on the audience.

Fan dance “Moonlight Over The Lotus Pond”

At the end of the performance, students sang the song “Auld Lang Syne” together in Chinese and 16 languages of the CEEC, which was a perfect interpretation for the profound friendship between the people of China and the CEEC.