Recently, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou University, and Burapha University jointly held the 12th Meeting of the Council of Confucius Institute at Burapha University of Thailand online. Li Xiaokun, president of Wenzhou Medical University and Chinese chairman of the council, Watcharin Gasaluck, president of Burapha University and foreign chairman of the council, Cao Jianming, vice president of Wenzhou Medical University and Chinese vice-chair of the council, Jin Shengwei, vice president of Wenzhou Medical University, Cai Shuguang, vice president of Wenzhou University, Somtawin Jaritkhuan, vice president of Burapha University and foreign vice-chair of the council, attended the meeting.

At the meeting, Li Xiaokun said that since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at Burapha University, the three universities have carried out fruitful cooperation in the fields of faculty and student exchanges, teaching resources sharing, and discipline co-construction relying on the platform of the Confucius Institute. During COVID-19, the three universities have worked together to overcome difficulties and cooperated in the fight against the pandemic, demonstrating the responsibility of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" with practical actions. He promised that Wenzhou Medical University will continue to support the development of the Confucius Institute at Burapha University, and take advantage of the platform to open up new horizons in cooperation between China and Thailand.

Watcharin Gasaluck expressed his gratitude to Wenzhou Medical University and Wenzhou University for donating epidemic prevention materials to Burapha University during the epidemic. He appreciated the contribution made by the Confucius Institute at Burapha University to promoting Chinese teaching and cultural exchanges in the past year and hoped to continue to deepen the cooperation between the three universities and jointly promote the steady development of the Confucius Institute.

Cai Shuguang applauded the achievements the Confucius Institute had made after the transfer. He said that Wenzhou University will also continue to support the work of the Confucius Institute. He believed that with the joint efforts of the three universities, the Confucius Institute at Burapha University will make new strides in cultural and educational exchanges.

The Council deliberated and adopted the 2021 work report and the 2022 work plan made by the Chinese dean of the Confucius Institute, and the 2021 financial report and the 2022 budget report made by the Thai dean of the Confucius Institute. The meeting discussed and decided on the new group of council members. The heads of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou University, and Burapha University of Thailand jointly signed the application for renewal of authorization of the Confucius Institute.

Chinese and foreign members of the council and relevant staff of the Confucius Institute attended the meeting.

The Confucius Institute is an important project for strengthening cultural, language, and people-to-people exchanges between China and ASEAN. Over the past 13 years, the Confucius Institute at Burapha University has actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative and facilitated the construction of the eastern economic corridor in Thailand. Under the leadership of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and the Chinese International Education Foundation, the Confucius Institute at Burapha University has solidly promoted international Chinese education and contributed to the language, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges between China and Thailand.

Text translated by Zhang Yi and reviewed by Sun You.