First H Anban V Isit Founding Director General of China's Confucius
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Confucius CELEBRATE THE FIRST CONFUCIUS DAY, Institute. 27 SEPTEMBER 2014 Newsletter December 2014 I Number 14 I First Hanban Visit Hanban First Founding Director General of China’s Confucius Institutes Honoured by the (https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/honorary-degree- University of Sheffield for-confucius-founder-1.415082) On 27 October 2014, at a special degree ceremony in Beijing, the University of Sheffield has awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters to Madame Xu Lin, the Director General of Hanban – the Office of Chinese Language Council International – and Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters.. As a Chemist and Economist by training, Madame Xu Lin has successfully overseen the development of the concept of the Confucius Institute around the globe as a non-profit public institution affiliated with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. The idea being to promote and teach Chinese language and culture around the world. The first institute was opened in Seoul, South Korea, in 2004 and there are now over 480 Confucius Institutes in dozens of countries on six continents. Madam Xu, said “There are more than 10,000 teachers and volunteers in overseas Confucius Institutes. They are the living embodiment of China and Chinese culture.” She considered Sheffield University to be one of the best Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Keith Burnett and Madame Xu Lin in the world, and was pleased to share her graduation in Beijing with over 60 Chinese undergraduate and universities in the UK to host a Confucius Institute, and in 2010 was postgraduate from The University of Sheffield. She also noted that, of all named Confucius Institute of the Year. The degree ceremony was part of honorary degrees she had received, this was the first time the President a 10-day visit to China by the Vice-Chancellor looking into partnerships of the University had addressed her in Chinese. The Vice-Chancellor and research in such areas as sustainable energy. The University of paid tribute to Madame Xu saying “It was a delight and honour to Sheffield is working with two of China’s leading higher education admit Madame Xu Lin to a degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa institutions, Beijing Language and Culture University and the University at The University of Sheffield’’. Sheffield University was one of the first of Nanjing. Inside ..... Page 1: Founding Director General of China’s Confucius Page 5: SCI 3rd Business seminar with MADE Institutes Honoured by the University of Sheffield Entrepreneur Festival Page 2: A Word from our Director Page 6: Chinese Opera and Art Performance Page 7: Tour de France Page 2: “China and MDGs: Progress and Challenges” Page 8: New Opportunities: SCI supply activities Page 3: Confucius Institute held a Special Lecture for Sheffield’s and classes for local Businesses literary festival ‘Off the Shelf’ Page 4: Celebrations of 10 Anniversary Year Partnership with China and Sheffield Confucius institute “Confucius Institute Day”. Newsletter 14 I December 2014 Page 1 A word from our Director Confucius Institute Seminar: This edition of SCI “China and MDGs: newsletter brings to a close the events of Progress and Challenges” a most memorable year. So many On 17 October, the Confucius Institute hosted a landmark events seminar along with the University of Sheffield during took place in the city which Dr. Esuna Dugarova enlightened the audience this year and SCI on the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). were there as usual at the heart of the Esuna Dugarova is a action. Research Fellow at the United Nations First and foremost we Research Institute for Dr. Lucy Zhao, Director, Confucius were delighted that the Social Development Institute at the University of Sheffield Vice Chancellor travelled where she specialises to China to deliver an in social dimensions Honorary Doctorate of of sustainable Letters to Madame Xu Lin, the Director General of Hanban. This development, including was an amazing event in itself but other land mark events were the social policy in emerging 10th Anniversary of Confucius Institutes worldwide and the Global Esuna Dugarova answers questions from and developing the audience Confucius Day; not forgetting the Tour De France Grand Depart event. countries. The highlights of the CI Anniversary week must be the SCI business Following Dr. Lucy Zhao’s introduction, Dr. Dugarova explained that seminar at the MADE international Entrepreneur Business Festival the current global development agenda that is centered on the MDGs in the City Hall. Nick Patrick from South Yorkshire International were officially established by the United Nations in 2000. A total of 189 Trade and his team helped facilitate its success through his client United Nations member states are committed to achieve 8 globally Congratulations! network. Then we celebrated the Art and Beijing Opera evening at the agreed goals by 2015 in the areas of poverty alleviation, education, Montgomery Hall Sheffield. Both were outstanding landmarks with gender equality, child and maternal health, environmental sustainability, SCI’s involvement with MADE festival in particular, a testament to just reducing diseases such as HIV/AIDS and building a global partnership how far we have come in one year. To be accepted as a key player in for development. MDGs have become an important standard for this event shows the degree of respect the Institute is held in with the measuring the progress of global development and organising wider Sheffield business community. Both events were attended by international development assistance. Cllr Roger Davidson, who besides delivering his letter of support from During her speech, the Deputy Prime Ministers Office, also gave an introduction Dr. Dugarova focused in Chinese. on the efforts of China The highlight of the summer was the Tour de France that captured towards achieving the the imagination of the whole city and we were so pleased to be able to MDGs. Its development be part of it. Also regular events like the Chinese Children’s summer proves to be quite school in the School holidays and the ‘Off the Shelf’ literary event promising, as up were both very well attended and successful. until 2013, China has already met 7 of the 15 Esuna Dugarova from United Nations Kun Fu expert Pablo Salas Vazquez, Martial Arts Teacher from well-defined targets Research Institute and Dr Lucy Zhao Sheffield Confucius Institute, delivered his classes throughout the ahead of schedule. In year and in addition also performed at key calendar events. The most addition, China made progress in establishing a global partnership notable being the Beijing Opera and Chinese Arts Evening in the city for development. It offers assistance to developing countries and centre Victorian Montgomery Hall. His energetic performance of has increased foreign aid. However, even though China has made gymnastic Kung Fu thrilled and delighted the audience and received remarkable progress, Dr. Dugarova indicated that China still has to rapturous and well deserved applause from the audience. face some challenges, including full and productive employment for all, universal access to reproductive health, reversing the spread of HIV/ We still have many exciting plans for the rest of this amazing year 2014, AIDS and ensuring environmental sustainability. the year of the Horse. The events in the pipe line for 2015 are already taking shape and we are more than ready for the exciting events and After the presentation, the audience raised several questions and challenges ahead. We hope to move ever onward and upward with comments regarding this topic, including questions on sustainable the incredible group of talented and dedicated individuals we have environment, the New Development Bank and gender inequality in around us for the coming year. China. Dr. Dugarova was able to provide everyone with answers and mentioned that “debates on global issues often raise more questions Dr. Lucy Zhao than answers”. Furthermore, when answering a question regarding Director, Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield the one-child policy, she stated that “China is good in recognizing problems, does not ignore them and continues to work on them”. Her excellent presentation provided a clear overview of China’s progress and challenges in achieving the MDGs and Dr. Dugarova gave the audience a better insight in China’s current development process. Newsletter 14 I December 2014 Page 2 Down to Business! Down to Then on the following day October 25, Zhao and Liu cooperated again Confucius Institute held to perform for a mainly English audience of local teenagers, in the event called ‘’ Meet the Coolest Philosopher in China: The Story of Chuang Tzu.” a Special Lecture for Spectators listened with interest as Miss Zhao Jingyi explained Chuang Tzu’s life, in which she looked at his background and Taoism. This was followed by Zhao delivering a variety of oral, performances, pictures, Sheffield’s literary festival video and other various presentations such as “Dreaming”, “know the fish is happy”, “fast and loose”, “mantis stalks the cicada and other ‘classic’ ‘Off the Shelf’ Chinese stories. These were intended to inspire people to think deeply Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield is in about the stories philosophical meaning, as well as its associations with the realities of everyday life. its eighth consecutive year participating in “Off the Shelf” the literary festival for the public. The festival The event was taken light heartedly and well received by the audience. has for 23 years, attracted a large number of British Liu again explained the brush strokes used in the Chinese characters for the “I know that the fish is happy”. The participants showed literary and media celebrities and is one of Britain’s their appreciation at this year’s event with and all felt proud of their most prestigious events. achievements especially having an understanding of the ancient characters origin and the characters meaning.