Culture
19:24, 19-Sep-2017
Confucius Institute to open new location in Panama, boosting cultural ties
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The latest effort to boost cultural exchanges between Panama and China comes in the form of a new Confucius Institute at the University of Panama (UP), located in Panama City.
The new headquarters will include two classrooms for basic
and advanced students of Mandarin, a library, an AV department and
several administrative offices, said Junhui David Wu, general director of the UP's
Confucius Institute.
Inauguration ceremony of the Confucius Institute at Panama University. /Photo via Beijing International Studies University
Inauguration ceremony of the Confucius Institute at Panama University. /Photo via Beijing International Studies University
Wu has been working on the project for 11 years, with the support of the UP and
the Chinese Embassy, and this demonstration of partnership between the two countries continued in the financing, which was split equally between Panama and China.
China's presence in Panama can be traced back to at least 150 years ago, but the
two countries cemented their bilateral relationship by formally establishing
diplomatic ties in June.
"The Confucius Institute is a center for teaching Mandarin to people around the
world...and this space will provide a venue for young Panamanians and officials
from different institutions, or people from NGOs, who want to learn Mandarin,"
Wu explained.
Inauguration ceremony of the Confucius Institute at Panama University. /CNS Photo
Inauguration ceremony of the Confucius Institute at Panama University. /CNS Photo
According to Wu, the courses provided by the institute are designed for customs officials, border agents, police officers and businessmen who need to
communicate in Chinese and the language teachers themselves will be supplied by Beijing
International Studies University.
When completed, Panama's Confucius Institute will
join a network of 500 such language centers around the world.
14352km
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency