On March 2, a delegation led by Cui Li, Vice President of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission (GNFCC) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and former Deputy Director of China’s National Health Commission (NHC), visited the HNU-RUA Confucius Institute in Cambodia. Two sides had a constructive meeting on international cooperation and exchanges at the Institute’s conference room.

Students of HNU-RUA Confucius Institute giving a nunchaku performance

(Photo courtesy of HNU-RUA Confucius Institute)

During the visit, Cui praised the Institute’s distinctive “Chinese + Tropical Agriculture” strategy, which leverages the academic strengths of both HNU (Hainan University) and RUA (Royal University of Agriculture) and fosters collaboration between Hainan and Cambodia. Cui also acknowledged the diverse contributions of Confucius Institutes across Phnom Penh and encouraged HNU-RUA Confucius Institute to integrate Chinese language education with students’ specializations and career planning to ensure sustainable development.

Associate Prof. Li Meizhen, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, introduced HNU and shared insights into the Institute’s specialized programs and activities. The GNFCC SCO delegation donated 100 books curated for the “SCO Bookshelf” Project.

Before the meeting, students from the Confucius Institute showcased their Chinese language proficiency and enthusiasm for Chinese culture, through reciting poems and the Three-Character Classic and giving a nunchaku performance.

Group photo (Photo courtesy of HNU-RUA Confucius Institute)

HNU and RUA have long maintained a strong partnership in research and education. In 2018, they jointly established the HNU–RUA Chinese Language Center. To further advance Chinese education and the development of Confucius Institute with local features, two sides sought to upgrade the Center into a full-fledged Confucius Institute. In March 2023, the China International Education Foundation officially approved the application. By February 2024, the preparations for the upgrading were completed. The unveiling ceremony for the HNU–RUA Confucius Institute took place in June 2024.

Translated by Han Yunsheng

Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie