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Home > About NC State > Chancellor > Speeches and Writings > Confucius Institute OpeningConfucius Institute Opening
Monday, April 23, 2007
11 a.m
Joyner Visitor Center
Welcome and thank you all for joining us today for this very special event. First, let me acknowledge our partners in the NC State Confucius Institute: The Office of the Chinese Language Council International, or the Hanban, and Nanjing Normal University.
Although representatives from the Hanban could not be here with us today, I would like to recognize members of the Chinese Embassy who are here on their behalf. From the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy: Mr. Fang Jun and Mr. Liu Jiangyi, and from the Culture Division of the Chinese Embassy: Mr. Wu Qiang, Mr. Lin Xi and Ms. Wang Nan. I want to thank you for providing the beautiful cultural display in the Institute and for your upcoming book donation.
With us today is Professor Song Yongzhong, President of Nanjing Normal University, our partner university. Also here with President Song are several members of his delegation: Mr. Wang Jeean, Vice President of Nanjing Normal University, Mr. Lee Shuenong, Mr. Sha Rurn and Mr. Wu Yeedong. Thank you President Song and members of your delegation for traveling from China to attend this event. We appreciate your willingness to partner and collaborate with our university.
Today we are proud to celebrate the opening of the NC State Confucius Institute-the 7th Confucius Institute in the United States and the first Institute in the Southeast. The goal of the Confucius Institute is to enhance intercultural understanding in the United States by sponsoring programs in Chinese language and culture.
The NC State Confucius Institute will promote this mission through a variety of educational and outreach activities to students, teachers, businesses and community leaders. Citizens from across the region will come to our Institute to engage in innovative programs that teach Chinese history and culture. Through study abroad activities offered at the Institute, our students will have opportunities to immerse themselves in Chinese language and society. They will gain real-world knowledge about one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The Confucius Institute will help build bridges to encourage the exchange of ideas between American and Chinese Students.
In keeping with our academic and economic development mission, the NC State Confucius Institute will also help our students and our businesses compete in this knowledge-based global economy. The Institute will not only open an academic connection between North Carolina and China, but it will also foster economic development activities in our state, by helping companies and entrepreneurs understand how to conduct business in the Chinese market.
Many of you will recall that six months ago, our provost, Dr. Larry Nielsen, our vice provost for international programs, Dr. Bailian Li, and the associate dean of our graduate school, Dr. Duane Larick, completed a landmark trip to China that helped position NC State in developing international education. As a result of that trip, we signed a total of 12 agreements with eight institutions in China, including the agreement that established the NC State Confucius Institute.
Next month, I will travel to China, to continue to promote the importance of international education and to strengthen our relationships with universities in China. Local business leaders from Raleigh and from RTP will travel with me, to reinforce North Carolina's role in creating economic development opportunities with companies in China.
Finally, in an ever-increasingly global economy, we have an obligation to our students, our faculty and to our community to help develop their international credibility. Education is the new language of the world and part of the currency of tomorrow. We can use education to develop our future leaders and increase understanding between our countries.
The NC State Confucius Institute will help to further this understanding, and we look forward to working with the Hanban and Nanjing Normal University to help make this Institute a success.
Now, please join me in welcoming Mr. Fang Jun from the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy.