JERUSALEM, Sunday, December 22, 2019 (WAFA) – Al-Quds University, east of Jerusalem, celebrated today the official inauguration of Palestine’s Confucius Institute, the first and only Chinese language and culture institute in the country.
The grand ceremony, held on AQU’s main campus, was attended by Chinese and Palestinian officials, presidents of AQU and Jiangxi Normal University and their vice presidents, AQU’s academics, staff, as well as representatives of Palestinian NGOs.
In his speech, AQU President Professor Imad Abu Kishek said he is proud that his alma mater is joining the wide network of affiliates of Confucius Institute around the globe, emphasizing that this great accomplishment helps promote AQU’s internationalization and enhances bilateral cultural exchanges and deep historical ties between the peoples of both Palestine and China.
Abu Kishek praised Confucius Institute at Al-Quds University (CIAQU) for its relentless efforts to offer a range of scientific and cultural programs, and organize a multitude of diverse extracurricular activities that are relevant to Chinese language and culture, through which Ancient and Modern China is broadly introduced to the Palestinians to increase their literacy about a major player in world politics and economy.
He noted that CIAQU also assists in supervising and coordinating academic and scientific exchanges with Chinese higher education institutions and research institutes.
President of China‘s Jiangxi Normal University Professor Mei Guoping said that cooperation between the two partner universities would help improve the academic achievement on joint studies.
"The aim of Confucius Institute is to enhance people‘s understanding of Chinese language and culture, to promote China‘s friendly relations with the world, and to enhance sustainable cultural development in pursuit of a harmonious world," added Gouping.
Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs echoed Professor Abu Kishek as he indicated that CIAQU would further consolidate the historical bonds between Palestine and China.
"The two nations are already in contact in the economic and political, and China is a big supporter to the Palestinians. Therefore, the newly born CIAQU will be an asset to this deep relationship between China and Palestine," he explained.
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