Confucius Institute at Prince of Songkla University Celebrates Eleventh Anniversary

On December 22nd, the Confucius Institute at Prince of Songkla University, Thailand celebrated its eleventh anniversary at the Liberal Arts Building. 350 people attended the event, including Chusak Limsakul, President of Prince of Songkla University, Uthaiwan Chalermchai, Chinese Project Consultant of the Office of the Basic Education Commission of the Ministry of Education of Thailand, Li Xianying, Chairman of the Joint Disaster Relief Agency of 14 Southern Provinces of Thailand, Feng Xiao, Consul of the Chinese Consulate-General in Songkhla, representatives of the governments of Sadao, Songkhla and Yala, representatives of the Chinese Association of Southern Thailand and representatives of teachers and students from the primary, middle and high schools of Southern Thailand, as well as teacher and student representatives from Guangxi Normal University.

The celebration began with the traditional Thailand folk dance performed by the student representatives from Phimanphittayasan School, Satun. Chusak Limsakul; He Zubin, President of Guangxi Normal University; Kanda Janyam, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute and Zhu Xiaomei, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute delivered speeches respectively. Chusak Limsakul expressed that the Confucius Institute has provided so much convenience for students of Prince of Songkla University to learn Chinese language. Today’s achievements are obtained after more than ten years of unremitting efforts. He also thanked Guangxi Normal University for its trust in Prince of Songkla University and said that the cooperation between the two universities is very pleasant. Kanda Janyam recognized and praised the Confucius Institute for its efforts in the Chinese language education in Southern Thailand.

Chusak Limsakul delivering a speech

The ribbon-cutting ceremony

Afterwards, the art show performed by Chinese and Thai artists kicked off. Teachers and students from the Conservatory of Music of Guangxi Normal University played “Jasmine Flower” with Chinese musical instruments, allowing the popular melody to pour out in the ensemble of guzheng, pipa, Chinese flute and erhu. The suona horn solo “Lantern Show” performed by Yang Yongqiang, a teacher of Guangxi Normal University amazed the whole audience. The band consisted of teachers from the Faculty of Liberal Arts of Prince of Songkla University performed the Thai instrumental ensemble and two chorus shows of Chinese songs. Later, teacher representatives of Yunnan College of Business Management, all the volunteer teachers of the Confucius Institute and student representatives of Hatyaiwittayalai Somboonkul kanya School performed the Chinese and Thai national dances respectively, making a unique spark out of the collision between the elegant Chinese dance and the peaceful Thai dance. Phichet Wongfu, an international student of Peking University who once studied in the Confucius Institute attended the celebration and sang two songs “Blessing China” and “Youth Dance” for it. In addition, student representatives of the Faculty of Liberal Arts of Prince of Songkla University recited the poem “A Grateful Heart” to express their sincere gratitude and blessings to the Confucius Institute.

Students from Hatyaiwittayalai Somboonkul kanya School performing the Thai folk dance

During the celebration, the guests visited “the First Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition of Confucius Institute” while teachers and students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Guangxi Normal University are invited to paint at the exhibition. In addition, experience activities of Chinese food, Chinese tea art and Chinese calligraphy were also included in the celebration.

Guangxi Normal University presenting a piece of calligraphy and painting work to Prince of Songkla University

On the afternoon of that day, in the Meeting Room No.1, President’s Office Building of Prince of Songkla University, Chusak Limsakul renewed the cooperation agreement between Prince of Songkla University and Guangxi Normal University, opening a new chapter for the cooperation between the two universities.

Contract renewal photo

The Confucius Institute at Prince of Songkla University continues to contribute to the cause of Chinese language education with “striving for excellence and sticking to be the first” as its guidelines. At present, the Confucius Institute at Prince of Songkla University has already set up seven Chinese teaching sites and established sound cooperation relations with six Chinese Centers in Southern Thailand. Zhu Xiaomei said, “With a high reputation in Southern Thailand, the Confucius Institute wins the respect and fondness of the local people. Today’s Confucius Institute cannot be built without the great support given by each party of Southern Thailand. We will continue to provide more excellent products and better services to people in Southern Thailand.”

Story by Lin Yuhuan