From May 25 to June 1, at the special invitation of the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc in Hungary, Vice President Wang Feng led a delegation on a dedicated visit to Hungary and Greece. The visit focused on attending the 25th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students – Hungary Regional Final, while also conducting a side visit to the Confucius Institute at the University of Patras in Greece. The visit aimed to advance the high-quality development of the Confucius Institutes established under the university’s leadership and further promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Europe.
During their stay in Hungary, the delegation attended the 25th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students – Hungary Regional Final on May 29. In his remarks, Vice President Wang Feng stated that, as the Chinese partner university of the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc, Beijing University of Chemical Technology has always attached great importance to educational exchanges and cooperation with Hungary. Over the past decade, the Institute has developed into an important platform in Central and Eastern Europe for promoting Chinese language education, spreading Chinese culture, and facilitating mutual learning between civilizations. Vice President Wang Feng emphasized that the “Chinese Bridge” is not only a bridge for international students to discover Chinese culture but also a bridge for strengthening China-Hungary cooperation and fostering exchanges among young people. He also presented awards to the competition winners. The Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc received the “Outstanding Organization Award” in the Hungary regional competition.
During the visit, Vice President Wang Feng held discussions with Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao on key priorities for the future development of the Confucius Institute. He briefed the Ambassador on the Institute’s achievements in Chinese language education, cultural promotion, and institutional cooperation between the two universities, and sought guidance on future development plans, faculty development, and the expansion of distinctive programs.
The delegation also held discussions with University of Miskolc Vice Rectors Peter Szucs, Roland Szilagyi, and Helga Kovacs, together with Confucius Institute Hungarian Director Daniel Kuttor and Chinese Director Zhao Jing. The meeting comprehensively reviewed the Institute’s achievements in Chinese language teaching, cultural engagement, academic exchanges, and institutional cooperation between the two universities. The delegation also visited Wanhua BorsodChem Chemical Company to discuss support for the continued development of the Confucius Institute and the establishment of dedicated funding mechanisms for joint student training programs. The two sides explored a “language-plus-specialization” talent cultivation model aligned with the company’s practical needs and agreed to establish targeted scholarships for joint training programs between Beijing University of Chemical Technology and the University of Miskolc, with the aim of cultivating interdisciplinary professionals equipped with both Chinese language proficiency and specialized expertise.
As part of the visit, the delegation traveled to the Confucius Institute at the University of Patras in Greece to conduct an on-site assessment of its preliminary development. Vice President Wang Feng held discussions with University of Patras Rector Christos Bouras and Vice Rector Ioannis Venetis, reaching consensus on the Institute’s operational plans and cooperation arrangements, and officially presented the authorization letter for the establishment of the Institute. Subsequently, accompanied by the Vice Rector and the head of the State Assets Management Office, the delegation inspected the Institute’s teaching facilities, office areas, and preparations for the inauguration ceremony. The Confucius Institute at the University of Patras is now ready for launch, representing an important milestone in advancing Chinese language education and people-to-people exchanges between the two institutions.
Visit to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Greece
During their stay in Greece, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Greece and met with Minister Counselor Zhang Gang and Education Affairs Officer Wang Ying. The delegation briefed them on the progress of the Confucius Institute at the University of Patras and received guidance and recommendations on its future development.
The delegation also visited the Confucius Institute at the University of West Attica and held discussions with its Chinese Director Xu Wenjie to gain insights from the operational experience and development model of this newly established Confucius Institute in Greece. The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on issues including the establishment of new institutes, teaching management, cultural activities, and the cultivation of local Chinese language teachers.
The delegation was accompanied by Zhang Bing, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, and Gao Xing, Program Officer of the same office.
Office of International Cooperation and Exchange