A delegation led by Jia Dezhong, a member of the standing committee of the CPC Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) committee and vice-president of the university, embarked on a week-long visit to Albania and Hungary from Nov 15 to 22. 

The journey included visits to prominent universities and Confucius Institutes in the two countries, paving the way for strengthened academic partnerships.

The delegation engaged with key institutions, such as the Academy of Sciences of Albania, the municipal government of Tirana, the Chinese embassy in Albania, and Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, seeking to promote cultural exchanges and bolster Sino-foreign relations. 

A pivotal moment of the visit was the unveiling of BFSU’s overseas internship bases, which have been built to provide students with practical exposure and real-world experience, further enhancing their global perspectives and employability.

The delegation attends the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the University of Tirana (UT) on Nov 16. Jia notes that over the past decade, the Confucius Institute has played a crucial role in Chinese language teaching and Chinese culture promotion, contributing significantly to mutual understanding between the people of China and Albania. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation visits the Academy of Sciences of Albania on Nov 16 and attends a ceremony, during which Ke Jing (R), a professor at BFSU, is conferred the title of honorary member by the academy. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation holds discussions with officials from the municipal government of Tirana on Chinese language courses at local primary and secondary schools offered by the Confucius Institute at UT. They also discuss exploring cooperation between primary and secondary schools in China and Albania and establishing sister-school relationships. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

On Nov 17, the delegation attends the council meeting of the Confucius Institute at UT and holds talks on the construction of smart classrooms and financial issues. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At the Chinese embassy in Albania on Nov 17, Jia (L) introduces the recent developments at BFSU and provides information about the university’s establishment of Confucius Institutes and international Chinese education initiatives in Albania. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation talks with Chinese government-sponsored teachers and local Chinese language teachers at the Confucius Institute at UT on Nov 18. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation unveils a plaque for the BFSU Tirana Center for Overseas Internship at Bankers Petroleum Albania on Nov 18. BFSU and the company reach a consensus on strengthening cooperation, supporting BFSU students’ internships in Albania, and promoting talent development. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

On Nov 19, the delegation visits the Confucius Institute at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and talks with the Chinese director, sponsored teachers, and international Chinese education volunteers at the institute. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

On Nov 19, Imre Hamar, vice-rector of ELTE, and the delegation engage in an exchange of views on the joint master's program in international Chinese education (translation), and reach a consensus on teaching methods, curriculum design and degree granting. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church on Nov 20, Jia (R) and Trócsányi László, rector of the university, hold talks on the exchange of faculty and students, mutual credit recognition, the joint organization of academic conferences, and the formulation of annual plans. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation meets with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary. Both sides hold in-depth exchanges on the employment of foreign experts, scholarship applications, and cultural activities. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Delegation members visit the Institute of Language Mediation at ELTE on Nov 20, where they invite teachers from the institute to visit BFSU and propose the joint organization of international seminars on Hungarian language teaching. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation attends the centennial celebration of ELTE's Department of Chinese Studies on Nov 20. Jia says he hopes to continue the cooperation with ELTE in the future to further promote in-depth communication between the Chinese departments of both sides, cultivate more talents with an international perspective, and contribute to the prosperity of the cultural and educational endeavors of China and Hungary. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation poses for a commemorative photo with Józsa Sándor (Front L 2nd), one of the first generation of sinologists in Hungary. Józsa Sándor serves as a translator for many Chinese leaders and holds the position of a visiting professor in the Hungarian Language Department at BFSU from 1988 to 1991. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation poses for a group photo with BFSU exchange students studying in Hungary on Nov 21. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation attends the council meeting of the Confucius Institute at ELTE on Nov 21. Jia expresses his hope that the Confucius Institute will serve as a bridge, fostering continued friendly cooperation between BFSU and ELTE, helping explore new models of collaborative talent development, and creating a model for international educational cooperation between Chinese and foreign universities. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Jia (R) and Borhy László, rector of ELTE and council president of the Confucius Institute at ELTE, unveil a plaque for the BFSU Budapest Center for Overseas Internship on Nov 21. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]