On January 30, 2014, the Chinese New Year Reception was held at The National Assembly for Wales (the Senedd, Cardiff Bay), UK. Three delegates from the Confucius Institute of Bangor University (CI) attended the reception at the invitation of the Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales. Mr. Cong Peiwu, Minister of Embassy of the P.R. China in the UK, met the three delegates and Chinese student representatives of International Department. Minister Cong asked Prof. Zhang Liying about the CI by the following questions: has it been one year since the Confucius Institute was established? And how are things with the institute? Prof. Zhang replied that CI’s development has achieved its initial success. She introduced CI’s legal characteristics to Minister Cong. The Institute had just passed the evaluation of LL.B. and the degree course of Chinese language. It has already managed to secure four teaching venues and gradually extended its influence in North Wales. The level of its activities had also been upgraded. First Minister Jones also had a brief conversation with Prof. Zhang. Mr. Jones is a legal graduate. Hence, Prof. Zhang expressed her welcome for his participation in the legal forum organized by CI in the future. After organizing the Chinese New Year celebrations at neighboring schools in that morning, two Chinese teachers, Ms. Yu Meng and Ms. Li Zhihui, came to attend the reception by taking a four hour train ride without going home first.

At the beginning of the reception, First Minister Jones and Minister Cong delivered their Spring Festival speeches respectively. Then there was a lion dance performance. Later, on the buffet reception, CI members communicated with dignitaries from Cardiff University, the Confucius Institute at Cardiff University, governmental branches and NGOs.

Minister Cong Peiwu had a talk with Prof. Zhang Liying

First Minister of Wales Jones and Minister Cong Peiwu had a group photo with delegates of Bangor University

Chinese New Year speech

Lion Dance Performance

Prof. Zhang invited First Minister Jones to attend the legal forum organized by CI.

Ms.Yu Meng and Ms.Li Zhihui came to attend the reception as soon as they finished the class.

Communicating with teachers from Cardiff University and Confucius Institute of Cardiff University.

Communicating with Beth Griffiths from Pembrokeshire College.

In the reception, everyone received a red envelope containing chocolate gold coins.