BELGRADE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute in Belgrade celebrated its 20th anniversary on Friday, bringing together Chinese and Serbian representatives from the education and cultural sectors, along with teachers and students, to mark two decades of Chinese language education and cultural exchanges.
Han Dianxiu, education counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, said at the ceremony that the institute, the first Confucius Institute established in the Balkans, had opened a new chapter in language and cultural exchanges between China and Serbia.
Over the past two decades, the institute has trained numerous Chinese-speaking professionals who have gone on to work in the fields of diplomacy, education, culture and in Chinese companies, becoming an important force in promoting cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, Han said.
Li Xinren, Chinese director of the institute, said that more and more Serbian people have come to know China through learning the Chinese language, gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through study and exchanges. He said Shandong University was ready to take the anniversary as an opportunity to further strengthen exchanges among teachers and students and expand practical cooperation with the University of Belgrade and other Serbian partners.
Radosav Pusic, Serbian director of the institute, said the institute currently operates 16 teaching sites across three Serbian cities, covering one university, four secondary schools and 11 primary schools, in addition to its main center at Faculty of Philology of Belgrade University and a Confucius Classroom at the Philological High School in Belgrade.
Over the past 20 years, the institute has recorded 17,130 student enrollments and organized more than 600 cultural events, offering local residents opportunities to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture, Pusic said.
The anniversary celebration, held at the historic Manak's House in Belgrade, featured an art exhibition titled "Encounter with China," showcasing calligraphy, paintings, photographs and handicrafts created by students of the institute. An award ceremony and cultural performances were also held.
Pavle Maksimovic, a 26-year-old Serbian painter who visited the exhibition, told Xinhua that the artworks on display had left a deep impression on him. He said seeing Serbian people learn Chinese calligraphy and express their understanding of Chinese culture through art gave him a greater appreciation of cultural exchanges between China and Serbia.
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