New Confucius Institute opens in Serbia

NIS, Serbia, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — A new Confucius Institute was inaugurated in Serbia on Friday at the University of Nis’ Faculty of Philosophy. The new Institute will provide students and enthusiasts with a platform to learn about the Chinese language and culture.
Jointly established by the University of Nis and Jiangsu University from China, this is the third Confucius Institute in Serbia, and the first in southern Serbia.
“Its role is crucial as we aim to promote the Chinese language and culture while fostering economic cooperation,” said Ivan Jovanovic, Vice-Dean for International Cooperation and Serbian Director of the Confucius Institute.
Dragan Antic, rector of the University of Nis, emphasized the significance of the new institute for enhancing cooperation between Serbian and Chinese educational institutions.
“I am confident this project will be highly successful, and that the opening of the Confucius Institute will strengthen ties between the University of Nis and many other Chinese universities,” Antic said.
In a video address, president of Jiangsu University Xing Weihong said that the establishment of the Confucius Institute marks the beginning of cooperation between the two universities in the field of international Chinese education.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming underscored the importance of cultural exchange. “We hope the Confucius Institute will enable the University of Nis to actively engage in Chinese language education, the development of local teachers, and cultural exchanges between China and Serbia,” Li said.
After the inauguration ceremony, a seminar on Serbia-China cooperation was held at the university. Serbian students are being encouraged to register for Chinese language courses at all proficiency levels via the Confucius Institute’s website and social media platforms. ■