On June 16, 2023, the Northeastern Three Provinces and One Autonomous Region Confucius Institute Alliance Working Conference and the Third International Chinese Education (Dalian) Forum were held at Dalian University of Foreign Languages. About 100 people attended the event, including Zhang Junli, deputy secretary-general of CIEF; Kong Feng, commissioner of the Education Commission of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, Jia Yun, second-tier inspector of the Department of Education of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, representatives of the Confucius Institute (Chinese International Education) Alliance in Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle; representatives of the Confucius Institute Partner University Alliance of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Liu Hong, president of Dalian University of Foreign Languages; representatives of the member organizations of the captioned alliance; as well as experts and scholars from over 30 universities throughout the country. During the event, the nameplate of the alliance was officially unveiled, marking its establishment.
During the opening ceremony, Zhang Junli stressed that the Three Provinces and One Autonomous Region Confucius Institute Alliance, acting to promote inter-province and inter-university cooperation, will become a new starting point for maintaining the high-quality, sustainable development and educational expansion of the overseas CIs that operate under three provinces (Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning) and one autonomous region (Inner Mongolia). Additionally, it will serve as a new platform that contributes to the overall revitalization of Northeast China and strengthens person-to-person exchanges in Northeast Asia.
As Kong Feng pointed out, the aims of the alliance are to further tap into the resources of domestic and foreign universities in partnership with the CIs operated by the three provinces and one autonomous region. This will establish cross-province cooperation and create an ecosphere of the CI that features interconnection, effective synergy, profound integration, and advantages to all concerned.
Jia Yun said that the establishment of the alliance will certainly combine advantageous resources in different places and fully enhance the leading role of universities. It will also promote the development of CI teaching platforms and talent pools, thereby improving the research capabilities of CIs and Chinese international education. Ultimately, this will facilitate the high-quality development of CIs within the three provinces and one autonomous region, and it will help to improve Chinese international education.
Liu Hong said that Dalian University of Foreign Languages will expand the network of universities affiliated to CI in all dimensions. It will also enhance the pivotal role of Chinese universities in partnership with CI, and establish diverse, fruitful cooperation between the universities of China and its foreign partners within the alliance.
According to the speeches delivered by representatives of the Confucius Institute (Chinese International Education) Alliance in Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the Confucius Institute Partner University Alliance of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the shared belief is that Chinese international education requires unity and teamwork. The practice in the three provinces and one autonomous region has provided a big platform for cooperation and exchange of views. Additionally, it has created a new window of opportunity to explore innovative pathways for the development of Chinese international education.
During the conference, experts delivered a series of keynote speeches around the theme of “new thinking for a new era: driving the innovative development of Chinese international education.” Adhering to openness, inclusiveness, rightness and innovation, the conference provided an important interactive platform for driving forward the construction of CIs among the three provinces and one autonomous region and the innovative development of Chinese international education.
