The 16th Confucius Institute of Xiamen University locates at University of the Philippines
On 2 Oct, Zhu Chongshi, president of Xiamen University, attended the unveiling ceremony of Confucius Institute at University of the Philippines, which is the 16th Confucius Institute of Xiamen University and the 4th in the Philippines.
In his speech at the ceremony, Zhu Chongshi expressed his congratulations on the start-up of the 16th Confucius Institute. He said that, being sister schools, Xiamen University and University of the Philippines have a quite long history of cooperation. Since the two universities signed the agreement in 2000, the cooperation in the fields of natural science, engineering, humanity, social science, etc, have got prosperous. The start-up of the Confucius Institute opens a new field of cooperation. He believed that the institute would serve as a bridge for the promotion of friendship between the people of the two countries. It is a gift to the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Zhan Xinli, vice president of Xiamen University, read the congratulatory letter by Xulin, director of Confucius Institute Headquarters, in which Xulin recalled the history of friendship between people of the two countries and hoped that the Confucius Institute would contribute further to the development of the friendship.
Alfredo E. Pascual, president of University of the Philippines, Michael Lim Tan, president of University of the Philippines Diliman, also gave a speech respectively at the ceremony. Alfredo E. Pascual emphasized that the institute would play an important role in promotion of the mutual understandingand learning of each other’s culture, while Michael Lim Tan hoped that the new institute would have a cooperation with the other three Confucius Institutes in the Philippines.
At the end of the ceremony, students of Xiamen University and University of the Philippines gave a performance, and at the same time a picture exhibition of Xiamen University was also held.
The unveiling ceremony drew a wide attention. CNN Philippines, The World News, The Shangbao, The United Daily News and other media reported the event. The Alumni Association of Xiamen University, The Joint Association of Chinese Schools, Chiang Kai Shek College, Zhang Zhao, the director of General Chamber of Commerce, and many schoolmates published congratulatory letters on a special edition of the local newspapers.
The attendees to the ceremony included Zhao Jianhua, Chinese ambassador plenipotentiary to the Philippines, and guests from General Chamber of Commerce, Philippines Parliament, Foundations, etc.
About University of the Philippines: University of the Philippines, the biggest comprehensive university in the Philippines, was set up in 1908, with 51 schools and more than 50,000 students. The University of the Philippines has 4 basic education schools located in 15 campuses across the country. The first UP openedin Manilain 1909 with the Colleges of Fine Arts, andMedicine and Surgery;UP Los Bañoswas also initiated as theUP College of Agriculturein the same year.5 other constituent universities have since been established; the latest since 2002 isUP Baguio, despite being formed 41 years earlier (in 1961).UP Diliman, the fourth CU which was established in 1949, is the flagship campusand seat of administration of the University of the Philippines.
