Confucious_Institute.png (Photo : Wikipedia)
The Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana (CIUB) kicked off its fifth anniversary celebration with cultural programs on Monday, according to China Daily.
The week-long celebration on the campus was inaugurated with photo exhibits, Chinese movie screenings, a Chinese song and poem contest, and open-to-all Chinese classes, among others.
Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Botswana, was a guest speaker during Tuesday's program. The official delivered a lecture on the milestones shared by the two countries, which will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in January next year.
Li Zhaoguo, dean of Foreign Languages College of Shanghai Normal University, meanwhile, is scheduled to give a lecture on Thursday tackling traditional Chinese medicines and traditional Chinese wisdom regarding life and health.
CIUB was set up as per the memorandum of agreement signed by the University of Botswana and Shanghai Normal University.
The Confucius Institute at the university is one of many around the world that serve as non-profit public institutions aimed at teaching people of other nationalities about China through Chinese-language instruction and introduction of the country's culture.
The first Confucius Institute was established in 2004 in Seoul, South Korea.
As of 2014, there are about 500 of these institutes established across the six continents, and the number is targeted to double by 2020.
