Date: Saturday, 07 June 2025
Xinhua Silk Road, Asmara, June 6 (Reporter Liu Fangqiang) On June 5, the Confucius Institute at the Eritrean Institute of Higher Education and Research (Eritrea Confucius Institute) held a celebration of the completion of its teaching building and the 12th anniversary of its establishment in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. About 200 representatives of teachers and students from the governments, enterprises, education and other fields of China and Eritrea as well as the Confucius Institute attended the event to witness this historic moment together.
Dai Demao, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Eritrea, said in his speech that generations of teachers of the Confucius Institute in Eritrea have taken root in Eritrea and worked hard to build a "bridge of friendship" across mountains and seas between the two countries. "At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China announced the Ten Partnership Actions to advance modernization with Africa, of which cultural exchanges are an important part. I believe that the Confucius Institute will take the completion of this building as an opportunity to make new contributions to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Eritrea and deepening the strategic partnership between China and Eritrea," said Dai Demao.
The Confucius Institute in Eritrea was jointly established by Guizhou University of Finance and Economics and the Eritrean Institute of Higher Education and Research in 2013. The institute offers Chinese language courses and cultural courses such as Chinese calligraphy, songs, dance, and Tai Chi. Since its establishment, more than 20,000 students have registered.
On June 5, students from the Confucius Institute performed Chinese folk dance at the event. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Fangqiang)
"In traditional Chinese culture, we have the twelve zodiac signs. The Confucius Institute in Eritrea has been in development for exactly twelve years, a cycle. At the same time, the Confucius Institute building in Eritrea has been successfully completed. Today is a double happiness. We will continue to provide strong support to the Confucius Institute in Eritrea in terms of policy guidance, teacher training, and funding guarantees," said Zhan Yong, Party Secretary of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics.
Since its establishment, the Confucius Institute in Eritrea has been using the school buildings of local universities for teaching, which is limited and inconvenient. The Confucius Institute building project in Eritrea was designed and constructed by Sichuan Highway and Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd. In order to allow the teachers and students of the Confucius Institute to move into the new school building as soon as possible, the designers and constructors worked overtime to complete the project within one year.
Wang Chuanfu, a member of the Party Committee of Sichuan Luqiao, said that the project covers an area of about 2,200 square meters and is a two-story building, including more than ten classrooms, activity rooms and rest areas of varying sizes, which can accommodate about 600 students for daily study and performance rehearsal. The building also has a multi-functional auditorium that can accommodate more than 150 people and is equipped with advanced audio-visual and lighting equipment, suitable for hosting various performances and activities.
On June 5, students of the Confucius Institute took a group photo outside the multi-purpose room of the new building. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Fangqiang)
Zemenfes Tsige, director of the Higher Education and International Relations Department of the Eritrean Institute of Higher Education and Research, said that the Confucius Institute in Eritrea has played an important role in promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries, and has held a variety of cultural activities such as the "Chinese Bridge" competition, International Chinese Day, and Chinese song competitions. "The completion of the new teaching building will help the Confucius Institute to better promote Chinese language and Chinese culture in the future." Tsige said.
