What about our Confucius Institute abroad?

1) The function of Confucius Institute is mainly to teach Chinese and China culture, not just Confucius. In addition to teaching, the Confucius Institute also holds academic lectures, cultural performances, Chinese competitions, Chinese proficiency tests, teacher training, international Chinese teacher qualification examinations and other activities. In addition to the regular types of Confucius Institutes, we also held Confucius Institutes with Chinese medicine, martial arts, drama and other characteristics at the request of overseas, which are very popular overseas.

2) Confucius Institute is a language and culture communication organization jointly organized by Chinese and foreign universities, and it is the headquarters of Confucius Institute in foreign universities. Generally, the cooperation period is five years. At the expiration, both parties will discuss whether to renew or suspend the business. This is a major feature and highlight of running the Confucius Institute, and it is also a magic weapon for the Confucius Institute to rapidly develop into the world's largest language and culture dissemination agency in just 16 years overseas. Because it is a Sino-foreign joint venture, it embodies the spirit of win-win cooperation enjoyed by * * * * * * * *, and embodies the consciousness of the unity of human destiny, making it easier to survive and develop and more easily welcomed and accepted by the world. Other big-name language and culture communication organizations in the world, such as the British Council, the French Academy, the Goethe Institute in Germany, and the Cervantes Institute in Spain, are all wholly owned overseas. Therefore, the Confucius Institute belongs to both China and the world.

3) The closure of individual Confucius Institutes is a normal metabolism, so there is no need to make a fuss. Because of the existence of Confucius Institute, it is influenced by three levels of environment: the environment of international and local countries, the environment of schools and regions, and the internal environment of Confucius Institute. The influence of these three levels of environment sometimes has some game power. When the strength of support is greater than the strength of opposition, the Confucius Institute can exist and develop smoothly. When the power of support is weaker than that of opposition, the development of Confucius Institute is hindered or even closed. Among all the influential forces, the president of the foreign university where the Confucius Institute is located is the most critical and direct force.

Many people in China don't quite understand why some well-run Confucius Institutes suddenly closed down. To a large extent, it depends on the attitude of the president of the university where the Confucius Institute is located. Generally, university presidents who bid for the Confucius Institute are very active in supporting the development of the Confucius Institute. Once the old president leaves office or retires, the attitude of the new president after taking office has a great influence. Some continue to actively support, and the Confucius Institute can continue to develop smoothly. Less active, the Confucius Institute can continue to operate; Some of them are not supported or opposed due to various factors, and the development of Confucius Institutes is restricted or even closed. However, most foreign university presidents attach great importance to internationalization, international exchanges and cooperation, and will support the development of Confucius Institutes. Therefore, the domestic people should see the charm of the Confucius Institute and the support of the international mainstream for the Confucius Institute, among which the role of university presidents is the first.

4) Look at the whole world, not the Confucius Institutes in individual countries. For example, the demand for Confucius Institutes in developing countries along the "Belt and Road" is very short and the development is very hot. Some developed countries used the funds of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the China Municipal Government to attack the Confucius Institute for "interference in academic freedom" and "cultural aggression", and even some politicians sensationally attacked the Confucius Institute as a "spy agency". These are contemporary international versions of "turning deer into horses" regardless of the facts, and they are contemporary international disciples of Zhao Gao, the great eunuch of the Qin Dynasty. Some of the funds of other big-name language and cultural institutions in the world are also subsidized by the government, and the funds of public universities in various countries (including western countries) mainly come from the government. These institutions and universities have not been attacked as "interfering with academic freedom".

Therefore, as soon as some domestic intellectuals heard these attacks, they couldn't wait to set up the Confucius Institute Foundation Committee, a non-governmental organization, to replace the now super-powerful Confucius Institute headquarters with rich management experience. This is obviously unconfident and unwise, and it is the stupid rhythm that people with ulterior motives take the initiative to dig holes and jump in. Even if the funding source of Confucius Institute is reorganized, will those who want to add more crimes stop attacking? As a matter of fact, the funds provided by the Confucius Institute Headquarters to specific Confucius Institutes around the world are managed in the special accounts of foreign universities where Confucius Institutes are located, and Chinese and foreign deans cooperate to discuss how to spend money on the project, so generally speaking, the authority of foreign deans is greater than that of Chinese deans. All the expenses and projects of Confucius Institute must go through the foreign dean, who is a full-time employee of the foreign cooperative university. Confucius Institute is not wholly owned by China, but a joint venture with foreign countries. Naturally, there is no problem of "interference with academic freedom".

5) Confucius Institute helps the world understand China, and China understands the world, which is the best zero-distance platform. It is the most successful brand of China culture going out, and it is also a cultural brand with high cost performance and input and output. Because the biggest highlight of Confucius Institutes is Sino-foreign cooperation in running schools, it can greatly reduce the cost of producing areas, integrate into all parts of the world faster in Sino-foreign cooperation, form the school-running characteristics of Confucius Institutes in localization, and play a role as a bridge for two-way exchanges between China and foreign countries.

6) Foreign people prefer to learn about China through Confucius Institute rather than mainstream media such as CCTV and Xinhua News Agency. Chinese teacher volunteers in Confucius Institute are a group of sunny and confident young people who have been professionally selected and trained. They can be described as talented and attractive young people. Naturally, foreign people know China directly and trust them. Many foreigners' impressions and images of China have changed since they came into contact with these young people in the sunshine. Therefore, we should affirm the great achievements and functions of Confucius Institutes and support the joint construction of Confucius Institutes overseas.

Most of the Confucius Institutes are low-key and pragmatic doers, who have a gentleman's demeanor of "doing things quickly and speaking things slowly", and have suffered many misunderstandings and even attacks at home and abroad. However, the great achievements and great role played by Confucius Institute can not be ignored, and it will play an increasingly important role in the future. "Stay if you agree, and leave if you don't agree." The Confucius Institute, which travels around the world, can continue to walk smartly.