A visiting Chinese educational delegation signed a letter of
intent on Monday with Egypt's Cairo University on jointly setting
up a Confucius Institute.
"Promoting Chinese language teaching is beneficial not only to
economic, educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation, but
also to the enhancement of understanding and friendship between the
two peoples," said Assistant Education Minister Zheng Shushan, head
of the Chinese delegation.
"Both sides have agreed to jointly provide human resources,
material and financial support to the forming and administration of
the Confucius Institute within Cairo University," Zheng added.
During a meeting with Cairo University President Ali Abdel
Rahman Yusef, Zheng said that the Chinese side was interested in
helping Cairo University improve its capabilities and levels of
Chinese language teaching.
"We also wish to provide more learning opportunities for
Egyptian students majoring in Chinese language as well as other
Egyptians who are interested in learning Chinese," he said.
Rahman Yusef said that Cairo University was willing to continue
cooperation with the Chinese side to push forward with the forming
of the Confucius Institute.
Cairo University, set up in 1908, was one of the most
prestigious universities in Egypt.
It set up a Chinese-language department and began to teach
Chinese in October 2004.
Confucius, born in BC 551, was a great Chinese thinker,
philosopher, statesman and educator. He was also the founder of
Confucianism.
Advocating the building of a harmonious society through
individuals' self-refinement in manners and taste, Confucianism
dominated the Chinese society for centuries, and was spread to
Europe in the late 16th century.
In an effort to promote Chinese language and culture abroad, the
Chinese government plans to set up 100 Confucius Institutes around
the world to help foreigners learn Chinese.
(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2006)
