The 2024 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa has gone underway in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The 3-day conference that kicked off on Thursday will discuss the cooperation and development of Chinese language training centers across the continent.
Jointly-organized by the China International Foundation for Chinese Language Education, the University of Nairobi, and the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, this year’s Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa is taking place on the theme : « Promoting Localization, Development, Collaboration and Innovation of African Confucius Institutes.
It brings together over 100 representatives from 77 Confucius Institutes and independent Confucius Classrooms in Africa. Senior government officials, diplomats, faculty members and students on Thursday attended the opening ceremony held at the University of Nairobi. One of the features of the opening ceremony was the launch of the East African Confucius Institute Alliance and the Tianjin Alumni Association Kenya chapter.
During the opening ceremony, the Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Aurelia Rono noted that the Confucius Institutes play a vital role in fostering cultural exchange and educational collaboration between China and Kenya.
She said breaching cultural and language barriers helps lay the foundation for building confidence amongst groups, promoting closer cooperation, and sharing best practices. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi Prof. Stephen Kiama on his part noted that the joint conference signifies commitment by China and Kenya to dismantle cultural and language barriers to international integration and interaction creating a globalized world of boundless opportunities. He further described the Conference as an innovative approach to international partnership and collaboration.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pinjian noted that educational exchanges provide an avenue for building a strong China-Africa community with a shared future. According to Zhou, Confucius Institutes, though a creation of China, belong to all communities of the world.
Since 2005, four Confucius Institutes have been established at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and Moi University, and over the years thousands of students have enrolled to pursue studies in Chinese language and culture. The institutes have also ensured academic collaborations between China and Kenya have flourished.
