The Confucius Institute at Addis Ababa University (AAU) garnered praise on Monday for a decade of fostering cultural and educational ties between China and Ethiopia. The special ceremony, attended by Ethiopian government officials, Chinese diplomats, representatives from AAU, and Tianjin University of Technology and Education (TUTE), highlighted the institute’s crucial role in deepening bilateral relations.
Ethiopia’s State Minister of Education, Kora Tushune, underscored the institute’s positive contributions in promoting friendship through language education and cultural exchange over the past ten years. He emphasized the significance of cultural and people-to-people ties as a foundation for comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.
Samuel Kifle, AAU’s interim president, congratulated the Confucius Institute for its dedicated service, emphasizing its role as a connecting bridge between China and Ethiopia. The celebration included the renewal of an agreement between the Confucius Institute at AAU and its host university.
Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Zhao Zhiyuan, commended the institute’s growth and contributions to educational and cultural cooperation. He expressed confidence that, with the support of both governments and the collaborative efforts of the universities, the institute would continue to play a vital role in fostering mutual learning and communication between the two civilizations.
As part of the festivities, the launch of a local Chinese language textbook, “Hello, Chinese,” was announced, featuring versions in Chinese-Amharic and Chinese-Afan Oromo languages. Zhang Jingang, TUTE Board Chair, affirmed the institute’s commitment to providing high-quality Chinese teaching services and cultural exchange activities.
Operational in Ethiopia since November 2013, the Confucius Institute at AAU has enrolled over 10,000 students in Chinese language studies across the country. In December 2016, it earned the prestigious title of Global Model Confucius Institute, standing as one of the 45 model Confucius Institutes worldwide.
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