On December 2nd (local time), the signing and unveiling ceremony of the New Mandarin Teaching Station of Confucius Institute at DUT took place at Clairwood Secondary School, marking the establishment of “Mandarin Corner”. Lin Songtian (Ambassador of China to South Africa), and Anil Sooklal (Deputy Director General at Department of InternationalRelations and Cooperation) delivered speeches at the ceremony. Fei Mingxing (Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Durban) and Ding Qiao (Acting Consul General) attended the ceremony. Also present at the ceremony were staff of the embassy and the consulate, representatives of the government in Durban, administrative staff and representatives of teachers and students of Clairwood Secondary School, teachers of Confucius Institute at DUT, representatives of Chinese enterprises including BAIC Motor and Hisense as well as some 100 media representatives from China and South Africa including The Mercury, Daily News and People’s Daily.

Lin Songtian delivering a speech

Deputy Director General Anil Sooklal making a speech

The donation ceremony

Unveiling Ceremony of the New Mandarin Teaching Station

Wu Lin (co-dean of the DUT Confucius Institute) and Yugan Naidoo (principal of Clairwood Secondary School) sign cooperative agreements

Lin Songtian and Anil Sooklal delivered speeches respectively. Then Mr. Lin Songtian handed over donations to Yugan Naidoo, and then unveiled the plaque for the “ Mandarin Corner ”and the New Mandarin Teaching Station of Confucius Institute at DUT in Clairwood Secondary School with distinguished guests including Anil Sooklal and Fei Mingxing. This was followed by the signing of memorandum between Wu Lin and Yugan Naidoo to seal the partnership.

The ambassador Lin Songtian communicating with students

It is reported that Clairwood Secondary School is the second Mandarin Teaching Station that Confucius Institute at DUT has set up this year. It has received a ZAR673, 000 donation from the embassy as well as many Chinese books and magazines from Confucius Institute at DUT and Chinese Consulate General in Durban for its development of the “Mandarin Corner” and the Mandarin Teaching Station. In the future, Confucius Institute at DUT and Clairwood Secondary School will seek extensive cooperation in various fields including mandarin learning, Smart Class building and vocational training.

Correspondant/Photogragher: Confucius Institute of FAFU at DUT  

Translator: Chen Xin, International College

Revision: Chen Jun, International College