The opening ceremony of the Chinese Language Course for Principals was held on Nov 15.

Su Dapeng, deputy secretary of the Party committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and representatives from the School of Chinese Language and Literature of the university attended the ceremony. 

Officials from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in China, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of Indonesia, the ASEAN-China Centre and Yogyakarta State University in Indonesia delivered online speeches.

Representatives from BFSU attend the opening ceremony of the Chinese Language Course for Principals on Nov 15. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Su noted that hosting the course at the 80th anniversary of BFSU and the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations demonstrates the university’s commitment in promoting educational and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia, and represents the good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries. 

BFSU will strive to help principals further experience Chinese culture and understand Chinese education, as well as make contributions to enhancing bilateral exchanges and expanding cooperation between the two countries, Su said.

Chen Dehai, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, delivers an online speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Language Course for Principals on Nov 15. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Chen Dehai, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, said that the alignment of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia’s Global Maritime Axis vision has greatly promoted people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Learning Chinese has become popular among Indonesian youth and Chinese has become one of the most widely used foreign languages in Indonesia.

The centre is willing to work with all parties to continuously boost practical cooperation in education between the two countries and bolster new progress in China-Indonesia relations, Chen noted. 

H. E. Djauhari Oratmangun, ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to China, speaks at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Language Course for Principals via video link. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

H. E. Djauhari Oratmangun, ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to China, said cooperation between China and Indonesia in economy, education and talent training has been continuously strengthened. This course marks an important step for the two countries to carry out practical educational collaboration.

The ambassador said he hopes that principals participating in the training will further understand Chinese language and culture, help Indonesian students learn about China and advance more extensive cooperation with China. 

He also spoke highly of BFSU’s academic achievements and wished to further promote educational cooperation between BFSU and Indonesian universities. 

As the first large-scale online Chinese training program targeting Indonesian educators, the Chinese Language Course for Principals was hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in China and BFSU.

The course will be taught by the School of Chinese Language and Literature at BFSU. One hundred and nineteen principals from outstanding primary and secondary schools in Indonesia will attend the immersive Chinese language and culture training.