Date: Oct. 13, 2020
Source: International Exchange & Cooperation Office

The Confucius Institute jointly established by Jinan University and the National University of Cordoba (NUC) in Argentina held an online opening ceremony on Oct. 9 local time in Argentina. Guests and speakers included Zou Xiaoli, the Chinese ambassador to Argentina; JNU Party Secretary Lin Rupeng  and President Song Xianzhong; Argentine Education Minister Nicolas Trotta; Juan Schiaretti, the governor of Cordoba Province; Jaime Perczyk, the Argentine Ministry of Education's secretary general of higher education policy; and NUC Rector Ugo Huli.

During the ceremony, Zou expressed warm congratulations on the official opening. He said the Confucius Institute at NUC, the third in Argentina, had gained great attention from JNU and NUC and symbolized another important achievement in education cooperation between China and Argentina. Since JNU and NUC occupy vital positions, as do Guangdong and Cordoba provinces, he said that with the joint efforts of both sides, the institute would surely become a platform to promote educational exchanges, enhance friendship between the people, and stimulate practical cooperation in economy, trade, science and technology, and humanities.
 

(Zou speaking during the opening ceremony)

Zhao Lingshan, secretary general of the China International Chinese Language Education Foundation, sent a congratulatory letter.
On behalf of JNU, Lin expressed his sincere congratulations on the institute's establishment.
 

(Lin speaking at the ceremony)
Song said that despite the distance, China and Argentina had developed a deep friendship and maintained close communication to achieve the steady progress of the Confucius Institute. Amid efforts and coordination by the two sides, he said, JNU organized groups of experienced teachers to provide online courses during the pandemic, offering 11 classes with nearly 150 registered students and several courses including Comprehensive Chinese, Basic Business Chinese, and a Chinese Culture and Lecture Series in the new term that began in August.
 

(Song giving his congratulations at the ceremony)
On behalf of NUC, Huli expressed his warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the guests. China has been approaching the center of the world stage, he said, and the international community is now paying more attention to the country than ever before, driving a growing demand for Chinese. He said NUC hoped to carry the culture exchange  forward, connecting the civilizations of China and Argentina by offering more courses about Chinese culture.
 

(Hu addressing the ceremony)
 

(Song (the second one from left) and other JNU leaders announcing the opening of the institute)
CCTV News, Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily and other mainstream media carried follow-up coverage on the event.