Directors of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia Visiting Western Part of Latvia

On September 12, 2017, Chinese Director Professor Shang Quanyu, Latvian Director Professor Peteris Pildegovics, Chinese teacher Dong Fang and Secretary Laura Zatina from Confucius Institute at University of Latvia arrived at Ventspils University College in the western Latvia for a visit. With the reception of Chinese volunteer teacher Pan Ling, they launched a cordial and friendly conversation with Prorector of Ventspils University College Mrs. Raita Rollande, Dean of Translation Faculty Mr. Guntars Dreijers，Director of Language Programme Mrs.Vita Balama and Secretary Rasa Zalite.

First of all, Prorector of Ventspils University College Mrs. Raita Rollande gave a warm welcome to Directors of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia. Then Chinese Director Professor Shang Quanyu and Latvian Director Professor Peteris Pildegovics introduced the booming development of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia, and expressed Confucius Institute’s wishes to do its best to provide necessary support for Chinese teaching in Ventspils University College. Two Directors also introduced Confucius Institute’s major programs such as Confucius Institute Scholarship, Summer Camp, Educational Delegation Exchange Project. Besides, they expressed their willingness to help Ventspils University College to establish friendly relations and cooperate with Chinese universities. Two Directors said that Ventspils University College is the first institution in Western Latvia that offers Chinese program, hoping that it can become the base and center for Chinese language teaching and Chinese culture promotion in Western Latvia. Dean of Translation Faculty was looking forward to the deeper and further cooperation with Confucius Institute as well as exchanges between China’s universities and Ventspils University College. In the end, both sides thanked each other, and everyone was immersed in a harmonious atmosphere.

Afterwards, Confucius Institute team came to Liepaja University in southwest of Latvia for a visit, launching a cordial and friendly conversation with Prorector of Liepaja University, Dean of Foreign Language Faculty, Dean of Lifelong Education Faculty and Director of Foreign Affairs. They discussed the possibility of offering Chinese program in Liepaja University and finally reached a preliminary consensus. Foreign Language Faculty is supposed to open Chinese courses next year. This visit trip has opened a door for Chinese program in western Latvia.