Hanban establishes Chinese Language Center at Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies in North Korea

Project narrative

On September 27th 2019, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) signed a cooperation agreement for the establishment of The Chinese Language Center of Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies (also referred to by the Chinese Embassy in DPRK as a "Confucius Institute") in North Korea. It will provide high-quality Chinese language learning resources to Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies. The ceremony was held in the Datongjiang Diplomatic Corps Hall in Pyongyang and was part of a visit by a Chinese delegation led by Ma Jianfei, Director-General of Hanban and Director-General of the Confucius Institute. Other attendees at the ceremony included: Li Jinjun, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK, Zhang Chenggang, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in the DPRK, Cui Mingfeng, Counselor of the Department of Culture and Education, Pak Shunde, Vice Chairman of the North Korean Education Commission, Kim Tiegen, Director of the Foreign Education Bureau of the North Korean Education Commission, Pyongyang Hong Jingxie, President of the University of Foreign Studies, and more than 100 teachers and students from Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies. On November 6, 2019, an unveiling ceremony was held to mark the completion of the Confucius Institute. The Chinese partner universities of the institute are the University of International Business and Economics and Liaodong University. Delegations from the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies and China's University of International Business and Economics previously signed a cooperation agreement supporting the language center on July 2nd, 2019.