Ukraine welcomes third Confucius Institute
16/12/2008 17:07
The third Confucius Institute in Ukraine, co-founded by Anhui University
of China and the Kharkiv National University, opened yesterday on the latter's
campus.
Zhou Li, the Chinese ambassador to Ukraine, said during the opening
ceremony that the co-founding of the Confucius Institute revealed the deepening
of Sino-Ukrainian cooperation in education.
As a great Chinese philosopher
and educator, Confucius' theories were profoundly influential, said Zhou. The
establishment of the institute has provided a new platform for Sino-Ukrainian
cultural exchange, and helped enhance the traditional friendship between the
peoples of the two countries, he added.
The Kharkiv National University
rector, Vil S. Bakirov, said Confucius symbolized Chinese culture, wisdom and
knowledge. With China's power and influence increasing on the global stage,
there is an increasing desire among Ukrainians to know the Asian country
better.
Kharkiv National University, along with Anhui University, would
endeavor to provide talents for the reinforcement of Sino-Ukrainian ties, said
Bakirov.
Over 700 Chinese students are currently studying at the renowned
Ukrainian university, founded in 1804.
The first Confucius Institute in
Ukraine was established in the eastern city of Luhansk in 2007, and the second
one in Kiev last month.
The Chinese government began to push forward the
establishment of non-profit Confucius Institutes overseas in 2004. More than 200
Confucius Institutes have been founded since.
Xinhua
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