Guizhou University partners with University of Gambia to create a Confucius Institute

On December 21, 2017, an Agreement on the Establishment of a Confucius Institute at the University of Gambia was signed by Ma Jianfei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, and Fye K. Ceesay, Gambian Ambassador to China. This signing was witnessed by the Presidents of China and the Gambia, respectively. This Confucius Institute is a partnership between Guizhou University and the University of the Gambia. The institute's goal is to teach the Chinese language and culture, and it is the first of its kind in the Gambia. As of May 2018, the offices and teaching rooms of the institute were newly constructed, and in June 2018, Chinese Ambassador to the Gambia, Ma Jianchun, said that the institute was in its 'final preparations' and that the institute would be opening at the beginning of the next academic year. On April 19, 2019, the Chinese Ambassador to the Gambia met with Fan Chaokang, the Chinese dean of the Confucius Institute, at the Chinese Embassy in China to discuss the construction progress. The Ambassador said the Confucius Institute would open around the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 2019. The Confucius Institute was officially inaugurated by the Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia, Dr. Isatou Touray, on October 15, 2019, in an inauguration ceremony at the University of Gambia. Ambassador to Gambia Ma Jianchun, Vice President of Gambia Toure, Minister of Higher Education Zhu Fu, President An Jun of the University of Gambia, Vice Chairman of the Council of Guizhou University, approximately 150 people including Tang Wen, masters and students of Gambia, and Chinese overseas students in Gambia participated. In his speech, Ambassador Ma Jianchun reviewed the progress of the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Gambia. He said that the construction of the Confucius Institute at the University of Gambia is one of the important achievements of President Barrow of Gambia’s visit to China in 2017.

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