Confucius Institute in Guyana marks 10th anniversary

Several officials, students, and residents gathered over the weekend at the University of Guyana, the Confucius Institute Headquarters, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organisation.

The anniversary celebration featured a series of cultural events, including salons, lectures, dancing, Peking opera, and folk music, and saw many students participating in the activities. 

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, attended the anniversary celebration on Sunday.

She said the institute has taken root in Guyana, worked diligently, and made great contributions to Chinese language and culture promotion and China-Guyana friendship.

"It has been warmly welcomed and widely praised by local friends. The 10-year history of the CIUG epitomises the burgeoning friendship between China and Guyana," she added.

The Chinese diplomat not only thanked the government of Guyana but also the University of Guyana and the Dalian University of Foreign Languages for their strong support and assistance in the development of the CIUG.

Left to right: Chinese Director of the CIUG Dr. Geo Zhiyan; Chinese Ambassador to Guyana H.E. Guo Haiyan, Guyana's Prime Minister Mark Phillips and his wife, along with Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin during the anniversary celebration.

Further, Ambassador Guo said the development of the CIUG is of great significance to both Guyana and China. As such, the CIUG’s work has contributed to the mutual understanding and good relations between different ethnic groups in Guyana.

Secondly, it has facilitated pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. Numerous Chinese enterprises are investing in Guyana, and they need lots of bilingual employees. The CIUG is placing a focus on utility and relevance in its syllabus.

And thirdly, it presents a comprehensive picture of a real China to Guyanese friends. She said the Western media alone will not show you the complete picture of China. Worse still, some of their biases can be misleading. 

As such, she hopes that CIUG will make a greater contribution to the new journey of building a closer-knit China-Guyana community with a shared future for both Chinese and Guyanese. 

A section of the audience at the Confucius Institute, University of Guyana (CIUG) 10th anniversary celebration. (Credit: Chinese Embassy)

Meanwhile, Guyana's Prime Minister Mark Phillips has stated that the Confucius Institute, University of Guyana (CIUG), has improved many people's lives and opened the door for a greater understanding of Chinese culture, highlighting the tremendous progress that has been done over the past ten years.

In his speech, he emphasised how the University if Guyana and its allies, who founded the institute here ten years ago, have demonstrated their dedication to the cause by reaching this significant milestone for the CIUG.

He claimed that ten years later, the advantages of education, cultural interchange, and the development of understanding between China and Guyana are attributable to their combined efforts.

“Certainly, the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana has made remarkable strides since its inception, and today we celebrate a decade of its outstanding contributions in Guyana. Including enriching the lives of many, fostering a deeper appreciation for Chinese culture, and strengthening the bonds between our peoples," the Prime Minister said.

Using the occasion, he expressed his gratitude to the institute for taking the lead in making sure Guyanese people had the means to access the outside world.

Hanban, UG, and Dalian University of Foreign Languages collaborated to create the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana. In March 2013, an agreement was made to build the institute at the UG main campus, and on May 19, 2014, the institute was formally established.