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“It is very important that this Institute will give a chance to even a wider range of Lithuanians to learn the Chinese language and to study the Chinese culture,” Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė said during the opening of the Confucius Institute at Vilnius University on 26 November.

“The Chinese culture is one of the oldest and richest cultures in the world, and the Chinese language has become increasingly popular in Lithuania. The Central Country (Zhōngguó) is also Lithuania’s key trading partner in Asia,” the Vice-Minister said.

The Vice-Minister believes that the activity of the new Institute will contribute to a better understanding of China and its people, and to closer cooperation between Lithuania and China.

The Institute is named after Confucius, who was one of the greatest philosophers in China.  Already in the 6th century BC, Confucius said, “[...] to learn untiringly, and to teach others without being wearied.” This is what we call today the discovery of the modern knowledge-based economy,” Vice-Minister A.Skaisgirytė Liauškienė said.

The establishment of the Confucius Institute was initiated and funded by Vilnius University in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. The establishment of this Institute will complement and enrich the B.A. degree programme in Sinology that has already been implemented for a decade by the Center of Oriental Studies at Vilnius University. The main objectives of the activity of the Institute are the following: promoting and developing Chinese studies and research, also holding academic and cultural events. Professors form Chinese universities will teach the Chinese language at the Institute.