On 14 July, the Chinese International Education Foundation sent out the letter, which approves of joint operation of Siena University Confucius Class by Wenzhou University and Siena University of Italy.

The Chinese International Education Foundation is the only organization authorized to set up norms and standards for running Confucius School Brand and it is directly under the administration of Ministry of Education.

The establishment of “Wenzhou University-Siena University Confucius Class” symbolizes the very first Confucius School (Class) independently owned by us. It is also another overseas teaching program after the establishment of Confucius School jointly run by Wenzhou University, Wenzhou Medical University and Burapha University in Thailand. It is also the first addition to the existing Confucius School (Class) in Zhejiang Province after the founding of the Chinese International Education Foundation. Now Wenzhou University will join the other seven higher education institutions to have received approval for the operation of Confucius School (Class).

We commenced cooperation with Siena University back in 2016. We have both created “Cross-cultural Language and Business Communication” undergraduate program; we have carried out extensive exchange amongst our students and teaching staff; our partnership has achieved great success in multiple aspects, which has laid a solid foundation for further cooperation. After the approval of “Confucius Class”, we will sign a tripartite agreement with theChinese International Education Foundation, establish HSK test site at Arezzo Campus in Tuscany, Italy, train local Chinese lecturers, and create Master’s degree in International Education of Chinese Language in order to further promote Chinese language education in local primary and secondary schools as well as local societies and promote the transmission of brilliant Chinese cultures.

Wenzhou University-Siena University Confucius Class will continue to inherit the goal of “mutual respect, friendly negotiation, equity and mutual benefit”. We will take actions and make efforts to tell stories about China, promote exchanges between people of both nations, build a platform for cultural exchange and a bridge for friendship between Chinese and Italian people so that we can make Confucius Class an inclusive place for the exchange between Chinese and foreign people and we can contribute to the world with Chinese wisdom and in a unique Chinese way.