The 2017 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Oceania sponsored by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and organized by the Confucius Institute in Auckland, New Zealand, was held in Auckland on October 27th, 2017. More than 60 guests attended the meeting, including Chinese and foreign directors from 18 Confucius Institutes and some Confucius Classrooms in Oceania, and representatives from Fudan University, the Chinese Consulate-General of in Auckland, Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and all circles of New Zealand.
This year coincides with the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand and the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Confucius Institute in Auckland. Stuart McCutcheon, President of the University of Auckland, Xu Ningsheng, President of Fudan University, Wang Lutong, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand and Jing Wei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Deputy Director-General of Hanban all sent congratulatory letters to the event. In her letter, Jing Wei said that since its establishment in 2007 and under the strong support of the University of Auckland, the Confucius Institute in Auckland has developed rapidly and carried out numerous wonderful Chinese cultural activities that have been well received in the local community.
Before the meeting, the attendees visited 3 Confucius Classrooms and a teaching site subordinated to the Confucius Institute in Auckland. They had an observation of the teaching process and held discussions. At the opening ceremony, students from the Confucius Classroom at St. Peter’s College in Auckland welcomed the representatives with the traditional “Haka” Maori dance and folk songs.
Students from the Confucius Classroom giving a performance
Xu Erwen, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland said in his speech that as a symbol of China-New Zealand friendship, the Confucius Institute has played a crucial role in promoting bilateral cultural exchanges and cooperation. Jenny Dixon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland and President of Board of the Confucius Institute in Auckland, pointed out that with the aim of building the Model Confucius Institute, the Confucius Institute in Auckland has set up a strategic plan for the new phase and the University of Auckland will continue to support and promote the sustainable development of the institute. Yuan Zhenghong, Vice President of Fudan University pointed out that Fudan University will maintain close exchanges and full cooperation with the University of Auckland to effectively run the institute, so as to further strengthen educational exchanges and cooperation between China and New Zealand and make greater contributions to improving the understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Attendees of the meeting carried out an in-depth and detailed case study and discussion on issues such as “Integrating Confucius Institutes into universities of both sides and run the council meeting effectively”, “Management and cooperation model of Confucius Classrooms, “Using traditional and new media to enhance the brand image and popularity of the Confucius Institute”, and “Successful experience of Chinese teachers and volunteers in obtaining local qualifications”, etc. They all agreed that this meeting exchanged experience, pooled consensus, and is pragmatic, efficient and fruitful, which is conducive to promoting the Confucius institutes in Oceania to further improve the quality and level of education and enhance their brand influence. At the meeting, the Confucius Institute in Auckland shared the development experience of the past decade and introduced good momentum of development and vigorous development potential of Confucius Classrooms in New Zealand’s primary and secondary schools. This has provided useful lessons for other Confucius Institutes in Oceania and won an active response from all representatives.
All attendees of the meeting
As the first Confucius Institute in New Zealand, the Confucius Institute in Auckland was founded in February, 2007. It has been awarded “Global Advanced Confucius Institute” for four times and won the “Pioneer of Confucius Institute” in 2014. (cited and source from Confucius Institute Headquarters)
