Roundtable on international exchanges of such Chinese culture as traditional Chinese medicine and Taiji convened in Kunming

Confucius Institute Headquarters holding a roundtable on international exchanges of such Chinese culture as traditional Chinese medicine and Taiji in Kunming

On the occasion of the upcoming 11th Confucius Institute Conference, the roundtable on international exchanges of such Chinese culture as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Taiji was convened by Confucius Institute Headquarters in Kunming on December 9th. Mr. Hao Ping, Vice Minister of Education of China, was present at the event and delivered a speech. The event was also attended by officials from the Department of Physical, Health and Arts Education of the Ministry of Education, General Administration of Sport of China, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China and relevant education departments (commissions) in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities as well as the heads of over 30 colleges and universities of TCM and of sport in China, some Confucius Institute Chinese partner universities and Beijing Tong Ren Tang Group.

Vice Minister of Education Hao Ping addressing the event

Speaking at the event, Mr. Hao Ping pointed out that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has been paying high attention to international exchanges of such Chinese culture as TCM and Taiji since the 18th CPC National Congress. TCM and Taiji are not only treasures of the Chinese nation, but also the common heritage of all mankind. We should effectively enhance our sense of mission and responsibility and actively coordinate resources on all fronts, so as to pave the way for such Chinese culture as TCM and Taiji to go global and to win widespread popularity. We should also lend support to all Confucius Institutes in offering more courses on Chinese culture, facilitate the establishment of relevant majors in the host universities and hold more promotional activities in the communities. We should vigorously develop the Confucius Institutes offering courses on such Chinese culture as TCM and Taiji and give full play to their exemplary and leading roles. We should make great efforts to teach and spread such Chinese culture as TCM and Taiji to overseas students in China and increase scholarship support. We should reinforce the cultivation and training of teachers for promoting Chinese culture worldwide, dispatch more teachers abroad as well as develop, translate and publish Chinese language teaching resources in more languages. We should take concrete steps to strengthen organizational leadership, establish and improve systems and mechanisms as well as extensively mobilize all the support from the government, schools, organizations and enterprises, so as to jointly endeavor to accomplish the work.

Delegates making their remarks at the event

Mr. Ma Jianfei, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanban, chaired the meeting, where officials from the Department of Physical, Health and Arts Education of the Ministry of Education, General Administration of Sport of China, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China and the Education Department of Henan Province as well as the heads of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Beijing Tong Ren Tang Group shared their experience and exchanged views. The delegates conducted in-depth discussions on the theme of this meeting. At the roundtable, Confucius Institute Headquarters and General Administration of Sport of China signed a strategic cooperation memorandum on international exchanges of Taiji and martial arts.

Confucius Institute Headquarters and General Administration of Sport of China signing a strategic cooperation memorandum

In 2016, in order to satisfy the demands of teachers and students as well as people around the world, over 240 Confucius Institutes in 78 countries across the globe offered courses on such Chinese culture as TCM and Taijiquan (Taiji boxing), with up to 35,000 registered students and 185,000 people having participated in relevant experience activities, which achieved tremendous popularity.