Delegation from Confucius Institute in Bratislava Visits Tianjin University

From May 9 to 10, a delegation from the Confucius Institute in Bratislava, led by Oliver Moravcik, President of the Slovak University of Technology, visited Tianjin University.

On the morning of May 9, President Chai Liyuan and Vice President Ming Dong met with the delegation at the Weijin Road Campus. Chai Liyuan welcomed the visitors and introduced the university’s history and the development of the jointly established Confucius Institute. He encouraged member universities in both countries would deepen collaboration through the Confucius Institute and programs such as Erasmus+, expanding faculty and student exchanges and joint research. He emphasized the importance of growing together through cooperation and contributing to mutual understanding between China and Slovakia.

Oliver Moravcik affirmed the achievements of the Confucius Institute and expressed interest in strengthening scientific and technological collaboration. Following the meeting, Chai Liyuan and Oliver Moravcik signed a memorandum of understanding and an Erasmus+ cooperation agreement. The signing ceremony was hosted by Ming Dong. Representatives from the Office of International Cooperation, the School of International Education, the College of Intelligence and Computing, and the School of Architecture, as well as Erasmus+ students and faculty, attended the event.

In the afternoon, the Board of the Confucius Institute in Bratislava convened at Tianjin University. The board reviewed and approved reports presented by Slovak Director Luboslav Stora, including the 2024 work report and budget summary, the 2025 work plan and budget proposal, and changes to the board's membership. Maximilian Stremy, Vice President of the Slovak University of Technology, was elected as the new chair of the board, while Ming Dong was elected as vice chair.

In his address, Ming Dong recognized the institute’s achievements in Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange, and express gratitude to all board members and directors for their dedication. He invited the board to participate in Tianjin University’s 130th anniversary celebrations in October. Slovak representatives, including Oliver Moravcik and Maximilian Stremy, congratulated Ming Dong on his new role and expressed interest in broader cooperation with Tianjin University.

On May 10, the delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Tianjin University International Culture Festival and visited a photo exhibition showcasing Slovak landscapes. Held at Peiyang Square, the exhibition featured over 30 images, accompanied by presentations from Slovak students in China.

Founded in 2007 at the Slovak University of Technology, the Confucius Institute in Bratislava was the first of its kind in Slovakia. It now operates two Confucius Classrooms and 11 teaching sites, having trained over 8,000 students. It plays a key role in promoting educational, cultural, and scientific cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

By: Qin Mian