The 7th Confucius Institute Conference was held at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) from December 16 to 19. The opening ceremony was presided over by Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education and Vice Chair of the Council of the Confucius Institute Headquarters (CIH). Liu Yandong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and Chair of the Council of CIH, was present at the opening session and delivered a speech. CUPL President Huang Jin attended the conference on invitation.

Over 2,000 people from 108 countries attended the conference, including representatives from some 400 Confucius Institutes and their Chinese counterparts, delegates from Education Sections of the Embassies and Consulates of PRC in foreign countries, deputies of foreign institutions in China, etc. During the conference, the discussion focused on the following eight topics: the Confucius China Study Plan, the development plan of Confucius Institutes, the training of Chinese language teachers, quality assessment of Confucius Institutes, Confucius Classroom, cultural innovation activities of Confucius Institutes’, the development and use of native Chinese teaching materials, and the online HSK test. In the course of the conference, certain tertiary activities were also organized, such as a sales exhibition of new teaching materials, and a demonstration of Confucius Institutes’ new technologies.

Prof Wei Shi and Prof. Zhang Liying, the Foreign and Chinese Co-deans of the Confucius Institute of Bangor University, which was co-established by Bangor University and CUPL, were also invited to attend the meeting.