New institute links U, China

"To have friends coming from a distant land, isn't that such a pleasure?" U President Michael Young quoted Chinese philosopher Confucius, describing his thoughts about a new partnership between the U and Sichuan University in China on Tuesday.

Young and Shi Jian, the vice president of Sichuan University in Chengdu, signed papers to establish the new Confucius Institute during yesterday's ceremony on campus.

The U is now home to one of 13 Confucius Institutes across the nation that were created to establish long-lasting ties with China and to educate the American public about the Chinese language and cultural practices.

"We need to do a whole lot of thinking and a whole lot of learning about the relations between the East and the West," said Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. "(The Confucius Institute) will be a learning opportunity for people in this state who are curious about the mysterious East."

Huntsman described the institute as a bridge between the United States and China that would be an invaluable aid to both countries in the coming years. He added that the language skills and cultural exchange that the institute encourages will be a powerful tool for Utahns in an increasingly globalized world.

Housed in the College of Humanities, the Confucius Institute plans to offer language courses, cultural activities, events and performances.

Janet Thiess, director of the Asia Center, said the institute will reach out to the public as well as students and faculty on campus. In January, the first of two full-time language teachers from Sichuan University will arrive at the U. Thiess hopes language classes can begin shortly after their arrival, she said.

"We need people, a lot of people, to know something about China's economics, health and political landscape now and in the coming years," Thiess said. "Not only will we need experts in these areas but a basic understanding across a broad swath of the population."

The institute will offer basic courses in Chinese to the public that are catered toward business, travel and attaining fluency. The classes will offer flexible schedules for classes on evenings and weekends, as well as intensive classes during the summer for anyone interested in learning Chinese.

The Institute will encourage Chinese language and culture classes at the K-12 school level and encourage cross-cultural experiences early. Thiess said that in the fall of next year the institute is hoping to have a lecture series on issues and topics impacting China.

"The Confucius Institute is a wonderful addition to our internationalization efforts," Young said. "It reflects our ongoing commitment to prepare students for an increasingly transnational world and recognizes China's extraordinary role in the global economy and the world in general."

Wu Fusheng and Yan Shijing, co-directors of the U's Confucius Institute, echoed their hopes of turning the institute into a vibrant center of learning at the U.

Jian said the institute will serve as a tool for Chinese students, too. Jian would like to have professors and experts from the United States come to Sichuan University and expose students to the more academic part of American culture, he said.

"The Confucius Institute is a window for the public of Utah to learn about China, its people, its culture and its language," Jian said. "And it is a way for Chinese students to learn the same of America. This exchange makes the world more beautiful."