Source: Office of International Cooperation & Exchange
Written by: Office of Confucius Institutes
Proofread by: Feng Yang
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On December 9-11, 2016, Prof. Ma Jun, Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), attended the 11th Confucius Institute Conference in Kunming, accompanied by Prof. Chang Chenguang, Vice Dean of School of International Studies, and Ms. Gu Wenli, Executive Deputy Director of the Office of Confucius Institutes at SYSU.

The Confucius Institute at the Autonomous University of Yucatan, Mexico won the title of the “Model Confucius Institute”. Madam Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of the State Council, Chair of the Council of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, presented the award to Prof. Jose Williams, President of the Autonomous University of Yucatan.

On the afternoon of December 10, Dr. Hao Ping, Vice Minister of Education, Executive Council Member of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, met with representatives from SYSU and the Autonomous University of Yucatan. Vice Minister Hao Ping highly affirmed SYSU’s work in the international promotion of the Chinese language, and expressed congratulations to the Confucius Institute at the Autonomous University of Yucatan on becoming the first “Model Confucius Institute” in Latin America. He pointed out that the Confucius Institute’s practice of cooperating with several Chinese universities is worth promoting, and he suggested that SYSU and the Autonomous University of Yucatan can establish the research center for Latin American Studies and the research center for China Studies respectively through the platform of the Confucius Institute.

Vice President Ma Jun said that SYSU has just set up the Center for Latin American Studies, and will enhance the research in Mexican Studies and Latin American Studies.

During the Conference, Vice President Ma Jun also attended the Presidents’ Forum and made a speech on the theme of “Best Practices and Appraisal Criteria for Model Confucius Institutes”. He introduced the development history and the future goal of the the Confucius Institute at the Autonomous University of Yucatan, and shared the experience of SYSU in the international promotion of the Chinese language.

Associate Professor Qin Shengyong, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Town gave a speech at the Directors’ Forum on Quality of CI Directors and Teachers. Dr. Zhang Zhe, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the Autonomous University of Yucatan, gave a speech at the Forum for Chinese Directors of CI.

In addition, Vice President Ma Jun also attended the Advisory Board Meeting of the Confucius Institute at the Autonomous University of Yucatan held in Kunming. At the meeting, Dr. Andres Aluja, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute, and Dr. Zhang Zhe, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, reported on the achievement of the Confucius Institute in 2016 and the work plan for 2017. The board members expressed their opinions on related issues and discussed the work focus for 2017.