From June 21 to June 22, the Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in North America and Oceania 2015 was convened in the University of Hawaii. More than 300 people attended this conference, including foreign and Chinese directors of 138 Confucius Institutes in North American and Oceania countries, persons in charge of 20 independent Confucius Classrooms, presidents of over 30 universities, and representatives of the Asia Society in America and university councils. Mr. Peng Long, President of BFSU, also attended the conference.

In the opening ceremony, Madame Xu Lin, Counselor of the State Council, Secretary General of Confucius Institute Headquarters/Hanban, and Director of the Hanban, Neil Abercrombie, the former-governor of Hawaii, Calvin Say, member of Hawaii House of Representatives, former Speaker and lifelong honorary speaker of the House, Clayton Daniel Mote, President of the National Academy of Engineering and member of the council of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, Mr. Liu Jian, Consul General of Consulate-General of China in Los Angeles, Robert Bley-Vroman, President of the University of Hawaii, and President Peng Long delivered speeches respectively. Two American senators sent their letters of congratulation. Kirk Caldwell, Mayor of Honolulu, in a proclamation letter, declared that, given the increasing influence of Confucius Institute and its contribution to the interaction and fusion of multi-culture in Hawaii, Honolulu declares June 21 as the “Confucius Institute Day” of the city.

In her speech, Madame Xu Lin introduced development survey and outstanding cases of the Confucius Institutes in North American and Oceania countries. Currently, 138 Confucius Institutes and 552 Confucius Classrooms have been established in North American and Oceania countries. In 2014, the number of students enrolled inthe Confucius Institutes in this region reached 380,000, accounting for 36% of the global total, registering an increase of 35% compared with 2013. Madame Xu gave high remarks to the Confucius Institute at the University of Hawaii, commenting it as one of the best Confucius Institutes in the world. She pointed out that Confucius Institute was a proper and positive undertaking in line with the world’s needs to learn about Chinese language and culture, and that the pattern of cooperation between both foreign and Chinese sides had strong vitality. In the coming decade, in order to achieve sustainable development, Confucius Institute should focus on three major aspects: acting according to local conditions while developing distinctive features, building on core competitiveness and consolidating the foundation of Chinese-teaching.

Mr. Peng Long addressed that, as the major drive for culture inheritance and innovation, institutions of higher education had the responsibility to provide excellent intelligence and talents support for cultural exchanges throughout the world by bringing into full swing specific advantages. In this regard, foreign language education played the important role as a communication bridge and cultural carrier. With the announcement of “One Belt One Road Initiative”, BFSU attaches greater importance to multi-lingual education, regional and country-specific study, and will attempt to set up all the major language courses of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China in a short period of time. BFSU will further cooperate with neighboring countries to promote world peace and development. In addition, BFSU also highly emphasizes and actively takes part in promotion programs of Teaching Chinese as Second Language, tries its best to undertake Confucius Institute, and optimizes country-specific study on Chinese education, overseas Chinese study research and international study of Chinese culture. In this way, the world can know about China on the move. The joint conference consisted of various parts, including presidents forum, group discussion and experience sharing, centered on the following subjects: “missions of Confucius Institute and university; sustainable development of Confucius Institute; the enhancement of its education quality and level; the establishment of alumni of Confucius Institute; and regional central settings and functions of Confucius Institute Headquarters” etc..

The Confucius Institute at the University of Hawaii undertook by BFSU did major preparation work for the conference. Chinese director Li Qikeng worked devotedly in preparation with Chinese teachers and volunteers selected and dispatched by BFSU. In order to ensure the success of the conference, Office of the Confucius Institute of BFSU formed a working group coming to Hawaii in advance to join the preparation. The joint conference was a great success. The meeting services were highly appraised by both the Hanban and the attendees

Zhang Xiaohui, Director of the Office of Confucius Institute, Ke Jing, Director of International Communication and Cooperation, and Li Yonghui, Dean of School of International Relations also accompanied them and attended the conference.