Peking University, Nov.4, 2011: The signing ceremony for the Confucius Institute at Stanford University run jointly by the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), Peking University (PKU) and Stanford University was held at Linhuxuan. Hanban Director-General Xu Lin, President John Hennessy of Stanford University and PKU President Zhou Qifeng, signed the Agreement on the Stanford Confucius Institute’s Fund Management and Implementation.

From left to right: John Hennessy, Xu Lin, Zhou Qifeng

Director Xu Lin expressed welcome to President John Hennessy and his delegation. She noted that Confucius Institutes were developing quickly worldwide. There are 350 Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in over 150 countries and regions, promoting the study of Chinese culture and language to people from all walks of life. The Confucius Institute at Stanford University is run in partnership by Stanford and PKU. As the first research-based Confucius Institute, it is sure to improve bilateral cultural exchange and intercourse.

In his address, President Zhou Qifeng pointed out the close relationship between PKU and Stanford University and achievements in academic cooperation between China and America initiated by the two universities. With development on both sides, PKU and Stanford University have established a smooth communication system and actively cooperated in many projects over the past few years. Stanford University has already become an important international partner school of PKU.

President John Hennessy showed Stanford’s willingness of more intensive cooperation with PKU. He said that the Confucius Institute and the under-prepared PKU Center at Stanford, which is currently under construction, would form a brand new platform for cultural communication between the two universities, and even between China and the US.  

Written by: Jiang Zhaohui
Edited by: Arthars
Source: PKU News (Chinese)