On May, 26, the unveiling ceremony of Confucius Institute at University of the Punjab (CIPU), with the co-sponsor of JXUST, was held in Pakistan. Vice President Mr. Wang Qishan and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Khan attended the ceremony. Other attendees included Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Qureshi, Federal Finance Minister Sheikh, Federal Planning and Development Minister Bakhtiar, other officials of the Ministry of Interior, and Chair of JXUST Council Mr. Luo Sihai.
Mr. Wang Qishan, who was on a three-day state visit to Pakistan, was to unveil another four programs of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan. CIPU is one the four programs. The unveiling ceremony of CIPU was widely covered by Pakistan media that considered Confucius Institutes (CIs) as a key in constructing CPEC.
It was in June, 2015 that CIPU was launched with the approval of CIs Headquarters (Hanban). Then, on 30th, August, 2016, the Chief Minister (Punjab) Scheme for Chinese Language Scholarships was set up, which marked that CIPU was put into operation. So far, CIPU is playing an active role in promoting Chinese and Chinese culture outside China. It has offered courses to 3,391 students and engaged 4,528 students Chinese tests. What’s more, this hub of Chinese cultural activities has organized 33 events, from academic to cultural exchanges, attracting more than 20,000 visitors.
Since 2017, China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited has set a scholarship in CIPU to encourage local students to apply for the exchange student program organized by JXUST and PU.
CIPU is committed to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan, deepening the friendship between the two countries, and to advancing Chinese overseas. The institute goes all out in meeting the demands of Chinese enterprises in Pakistan, and demonstrates universities’ duty to pass traditional culture to the next generation, make cultural innovations and carry out international cooperation. It also shoulders the responsibility to meet the needs of CPEC and the Belt and Road Initiative.
In the coming days, JXUST will be devoted to delegating excellent teachers to teach Chinese in CIPU, achieving Chinese teaching of high quality, and conducting people-to-people exchanges. Still, great efforts will be made to offer Chinese language courses for foreign students majoring in Translation, Interpreting, Engineering, Business, Laws, and Accounting etc. Besides, JXUST will work for more exchanges students programs with PU. Last but not least, JXUST will attach importance to the major Chinese Teaching to meet the needs of Chinese enterprises in Pakistan.
