With Gratitude, Building the Future Together!
-- The Confucius Institute at the Portland State University Holds Commemorative Activities for its 10th Anniversary

On October 10th local time, activities were held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the Portland State University and 2017 Confucius Institute Day, which included art exhibitions, lectures, evening shows, etc. Guests attended the event included Dennis Richardson, Secretary of Oregon State, Rahmat Shoureshi, President of the Portland State University, Luo Linquan, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco, Lu Huixing, Deputy Director of International Office at Soochow University, Wang Jian, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute and Zhang Jian, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute.

During the activities, guests visited the Chinese Hall of the Portland Art Museum, where the exquisite collections of ancient Chinese cultural relics with a long history and splendid culture were displayed, allowing the visitors to taste the time-honored and profound Chinese culture.

Guests visiting the exhibition of the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute

After the exhibition, Mr. Barry Naughton, Chair of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego and an expert in Chinese Economy, gave a lecture titled “The Next Driving Force for the Rapid Growth of Chinese Economy”, which centered around the “Belt and Road” initiative and elaborated on the prospects of Chinese economy and opportunities for the development of global economy.

The open day activity of the Confucius Institute was held in the Karl Miller Center, in which the visitors could have a close look at the Chinese paintings and calligraphies, art of tea, martial arts, costumes, paper cutting, chess and other Chinese cultural objects. Local people from all walks of life came and experienced the activity, making it a hot scene.

Open day activity

Mr. Luo Linquan talking with a student of the Confucius Institute

In the evening, a banquet was held in the Smith Student Center. In their speeches, the guests spoke highly of the Confucius Institute’s efforts in teaching Chinese language and promoting the Chinese culture in the past ten years; and they also expressed their wish for a better Confucius Institute. A letter from the headquarters of the Confucius Institute/Hanban was read in the party, which extended gratitude to the contribution made by both the Chinese and American people from all sectors of the society to the development of the Confucius Institute.

Dennis Richardson giving a speech

Rahmat Shoureshi giving a speech

Vice-president of the Portland State University Margaret Everett in a speech

Chair of the council of the Portland State University Eric Einspruch in a speech

Lu Huixing giving a speech

Wang Jian giving a speech

After the banquet, the 10th anniversary evening show was held in the Lincoln Hall of the Portland State University. Performances were presented by teachers and students from the Confucius Institute at the Portland State University and its Confucius Classrooms, Portland State University, Soochow University, Haiyan International Dance Academy, American Martial Art Center, etc. Chinese dance, instrument performance, ballet, recite, martial arts, female solo and chorus took turns to excite the spectators, winning loud applauses from them.

Scene of the evening show of the 10th anniversary

Group photo of the evening show

To prepare for the 10th anniversary, the Confucius Institute at the Portland State University carried out a series of activities themed “With gratitude, building the future together”, which has won good reputation among the participants. Over the past ten years, the Confucius Institute has taken teaching the Chinese language and promoting the Chinese culture as the starting point, been dedicated in setting up the Confucius classrooms and teaching spots, and gradually grown to one of the biggest Confucius Institutes in the USA. In the future, the Confucius Institute will advance courageously to create the next splendid decade.

Written by Wang Xing

Photographed by Zhang Guangchao, Zhai Tianyi and Zhou Jizheng