XINHUA, Belgrade, Oct. 11 (Reporter Jin Danyi) — Celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade, Serbia, kicked off in the capital on October 9. Representatives from the educational and cultural sectors of China and Serbia, together with faculty and students of the institute, attended the event and jointly reviewed the institute’s achievements in Chinese language education and cultural exchanges over the past two decades.

Guests pose for a group photo at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade, Serbia, on October 9. Xinhua (Photo courtesy of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade)

Han Dianxiu, Education Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, said in his address that as the first Confucius Institute in the Balkan region, the founding of the Belgrade institute opened a new chapter in China-Serbia language and cultural exchanges. Over the past 20 years, a large number of Chinese language talents trained by the institute have taken up posts in diplomacy, culture and education, and Chinese-funded enterprises, becoming a backbone force for China-Serbia exchanges. Far beyond language teaching, the institute has long served as an important bond connecting the hearts of the two peoples.

Li Xinren, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade, noted that over the past two decades, a growing number of Serbian people have come to know China through the institute and deepened their understanding of Chinese culture through exchanges. As a partner institution, Shandong University is ready to take the 20th anniversary as a new starting point to further deepen faculty, student and people-to-people exchanges with the University of Belgrade and Serbian partners, and expand practical cooperation.

Radosav Pušić, Serbian Director of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade, introduced that in addition to its headquarters at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Belgrade, the institute also runs a Confucius Classroom at the Belgrade Language High School and 16 teaching sites across three cities in Serbia. Over the past 20 years, the institute has had over 17,100 registered students in total and held more than 600 cultural events of various kinds, serving as an important platform for local people to learn Chinese and understand Chinese culture.

During the event, the organizer hosted an art exhibition of Confucius Institute students under the theme Encounter China, featuring calligraphy, paintings, photography and handicrafts created by the students, presenting Chinese culture as seen by the Serbian people. An award ceremony for outstanding works and cultural performances was also held on site.

Two students perform a song at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade, Serbia, on October 9. Xinhua (Photo courtesy of the Confucius Institute in Belgrade)

Pavle Maksimović, a 26-year-old Serbian painter, told Xinhua reporters after visiting the exhibition that he was deeply impressed by the works on display. He said that seeing Serbian people learn Chinese calligraphy through the Confucius Institute and express their understanding of Chinese culture through artistic creations made him more vividly feel the charm of Serbia-China cultural exchanges.