Under the slogan Global Challenges in Local Environments, the Confucius Institute of the University of Valencia (ICUV) will host the 2^nd Forum of directors of these centres dedicated to the promotion of Chinese language and culture, from 21 to 24 May.

In this 2^nd Forum of directors, organised by the ICUV, there was an analysis and discussion of the challenges in the educational environment posed by the development of AI and the adaptation Chinese language teaching methodology to the Spanish academic curriculum, especially in bilingual autonomous communities. They also discussed budgetary self-sufficiency for the promotion and dissemination of activities of the Chinese language and culture. The first forum took place last year and was organised by the Confucius Institute Foundation of Barcelona.

The working session on Thursday was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Language Studies, Translation and Communication, José Antonio Calañas, who stressed that the CIs have been able to bring together the rich and diverse cultures of these two nations so deeply rooted in history. Principal of the Northeast Normal University (NENU) Xu Haiyang welcomed the participants in audiovisual format and underlined the importance of this meeting for a better exchange between cultures and a greater international understanding. General Director of the Centre for Chinese Language Cooperation Yu Yunfeng, Counsellor for Educational Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Spain Zhao Weimin, and Deputy Secretary of the Foundation for International Chinese Education Zhang Junli praised their country’s commitment to these centres. President of the University of Valencia María Vicenta Mestre has welcomed them, together with the director of the ICUV, Vicente Andreu. She has reiterated that, after almost 17 years since its foundation, the ICUV is still a valid tool not only for UV students, but also for those interested in Chinese culture and society in our community from a non-academic option.

Nowadays, together with the ICUV, there are already nine CIs in our country: Madrid, Granada, Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, León, Zaragoza, Castilla-La Mancha and Seville, which was inaugurated less than a month ago. In addition to the CIs, Andalusia also has a network of Confucius Classrooms since 2011, which offer optional Chinese classes and teaching materials on Chinese culture in around 40 schools and institutes in the eight provinces of the autonomous community.