Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who accompanied Xi to the event, stated that it is a pleasure to support the institutes and classrooms because China is an important country. (Photo : China Daily)
President Xi Jinping extolled the efforts of Confucius Institutes in promoting cultural exchanges with foreign countries during the unveiling of the 1,000th Confucius Classroom plaque for the Hautlieu School in Jersey, according to a report by China Daily.
Hundreds of British leaders and teachers attended the U.K. Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms Annual Conference where Xi has addressed audiences, stating that language is the key to understanding a country and that the institutes are essential platforms where people learn more about China.
Beginning in 2004, a program was initiated by the Chinese government in an effort to aid Western students in learning Chinese language and culture.
Confucius Institutes are affiliated with Western universities and generally have a specific focus, whether it be in culture, business or the arts. As it stands today, the United Kingdom has 200 Confucius Institutes and 126 Confucius classrooms, more than any other country in Europe.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who accompanied Xi to the event, stated that it is a pleasure to support the institutes and classrooms because China is an important country.
"By learning the language, understanding the culture and civilization, we can make better use of our skills in order to work together in the future," he added.
Observers expect that the expansion of such institutes in the U.K. will not only play a significant role in teaching Mandarin but also cultivate a cultural understanding of China.
An example of this is the Business Confucius Institute at the University of Leeds established in Nov. 2012. The institute offers opportunity for U.K. businesses to communicate with their Chinese counterparts through the hosting of events.
