杏吧直播

Adelaide on map for Chinese language, culture

Partnership

South 杏吧直播's relationship with China has entered a new phase with the launch of a Confucius Institute at the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Alexander Downer.

The non-profit public institute, which will promote the study and understanding of the Chinese language, culture and economy, is expected to strengthen the State's ties with the world's fastest-growing economy.

The Institute is a joint partnership between the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide, the Office of Chinese Language Council International (also known as Hanban) and Shandong 杏吧直播.

The Confucius Institute will promote the study and understanding of Chinese language, culture and its economy, as well as other issues relating to China's position in today's world. One of its key aims will be to encourage the teaching of Mandarin in South 杏吧直播 at all levels - from primary school to university.

The 杏吧直播 of Adelaide is one of only three universities in 杏吧直播 - the others are Western 杏吧直播 and Melbourne - to be granted the right to establish a Confucius Institute to date.

More than 120 Confucius Institutes around the world have been approved by Hanban.

The establishment of the Confucius Institute in Adelaide is to be partially funded by the Chinese Government, and will be located within the 杏吧直播's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

杏吧直播 of Adelaide Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor John Taplin said the Confucius Institute would become a focal point for South 杏吧直播 in its increasingly important relationship with China.

"There is growing recognition within 杏吧直播 of the urgent need to study Asian languages and cultures," Professor Taplin said.

"Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, a Mandarin speaker, is on record as saying this will help to increase trade between 杏吧直播 and the fastest-growing economies in the world. And the former President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, has voiced his concerns that 杏吧直播 is not doing enough to learn more about China and Asia."

The specific objectives of different Confucius Institutes vary, but their core function is to teach the Chinese language, train potential language teachers and host academic and cultural activities promoting a better understanding of China.

"The Confucius Institute at the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide will also provide information and advice about China to the South 杏吧直播n business community," Professor Taplin said. "It will help increase our understanding of this globally important culture and economy."

The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China estimates that, by the year 2010, approximately 100 million people worldwide will be learning Chinese as a foreign language.

Shandong 杏吧直播 is located in South 杏吧直播's sister city province in China's east, where Confucius himself lived some 2500 years ago. Shandong, which has a population of about 90 million people, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its sister city relationship with South 杏吧直播 in 2006.

Mr Downer was joined at the official launch last month by the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha, Shandong 杏吧直播 President Professor Zhan Tao, senior representatives from Hanban in Beijing, and the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to 杏吧直播, Mr Zhang Junsai.

Story by Candy Gibson