On April 9th, the Confucius Institute headquarters held an unveiling ceremony in Beijing. State Councilor, leader of Hanban’s leadership team, Chairman of the board of Confucius Institute headquarters, Chen Zhili, unveiled the plaque and delivered an important speech.
                
    Chen Zhili said that the establishment of Confucius Institute is an important act by the Chinese government to promote language and cultural exchanges between China and other countries, for the future development of a multi-cultural and harmonious world. In recent years, Confucius Institutes around the world have received enthusiastic feedbacks and active support from many countries. Presently, there are over 140 Confucius Institutes established in more than 50 countries and regions in the world. Many Chinese universities and advanced educational institutions have participated in the establishment of these Confucius Institutes. Confucius Institutes in different areas develop according to their strengths and operate according to the specialties of their host universities and areas to form unique educational models. Confucius Institutes have been very well received by the local people and they have become important institutes for people overseas to learn Chinese language, culture and about contemporary China.
                                     
   According to the report, with the great support from China and around the world, the Chinese government gave the authorization for the establishment of the Confucius Institute headquarters in Beijing. According to the Regulations of the Confucius Institute, the Confucius Institute headquarters will be the top administrative organization for Confucius Institutes all over the world, responsible for: stipulating relevant regulations of the Confucius Institute, developing plans and evaluation criteria; authorizing the establishment of all Confucius Institutes; checking and authorizing the annual project implementation plans and budgets for all Confucius Institutes; providing management and teaching staff as well as teaching resources including textbooks for all the Confucius Institutes. The Confucius Institute headquarters will be in charge of coordinating and providing other general services, strengthening the cooperation and communications between all the Confucius Institutes, sincerely serving all Confucius Institutes and giving support and assistance to people learning Chinese language and cultures in other countries.
               
    Minister of Education, Zhou Ji, hosted the unveiling ceremony. People-in-charge from Hanban – the board members for the Confucius Institute headquarters, Beijing municipal government, educational divisions of different provinces and cities, scholars from relevant universities and middle school principals, diplomats to China from more than 60 countries and representatives from overseas Confucius Institutes, altogether 300 people attended the unveiling ceremony.   

孔子学院总部揭牌仪式举行 陈至立揭牌并讲话 

     4月9日，孔子学院总部揭牌仪式在京举行。国务委员、国家汉语国际推广领导小组组长、孔子学院总部理事会主席陈至立为孔子学院总部揭牌并发表重要讲话。
               
     陈至立说，建设孔子学院，是中国政府促进中外语言和文化交流，发展人类多元文化，共同构建和谐世界的重要举措。近年来，孔子学院建设得到了许多国家的热烈响应和积极支持。目前，全球已启动孔子学院140多所，分布在50多个国家和地区。中国许多高校和机构参与了孔子学院的承办工作。各地孔子学院充分发挥自身优势，因国因地因校制宜，形成了各具特色的办学模式，成为各国学习汉语言文化、了解当代中国的重要场所，受到了当地社会各界的欢迎。
    
     据了解，在国内外各界人士的大力支持下，经中国政府批准，孔子学院总部在北京成立。按照《孔子学院章程》的规定，孔子学院总部是全球孔子学院的最高管理机构，其职责是：制订孔子学院的有关规章、建设规划和评估标准；审批各地孔子学院的设置；审核批准各地孔子学院的年度项目实施方案和预决算；为各地孔子学院提供管理和教学人员以及教材课程等各种资源支持。孔子学院总部将担负起统筹协调和综合服务职能，加强与各孔子学院的合作与联系，竭诚为各国孔子学院服务，并通过孔子学院为各国学习汉语和中国文化的人士提供支持和帮助。

     教育部部长周济主持了揭牌仪式，来自国家汉语国际推广领导小组暨孔子学院总部理事会理事会成员单位的负责人，北京市政府、各省市教育部门负责人，有关高校和中学校长及专家学者；60多个国家的驻华使节，部分海外孔子学院代表等300人出席了揭牌仪式。