The Confucius Institute (CI) at the University of Sheffield held online its 15th Annual Board Meeting on March 15.

The meeting was hosted by Zhao Wenshu, dean of Nanjing University’s Institute for International Students.

Also attending the meeting were Professor Wang Zhenlin, Nanjing University’s vice president and also a member of the university’s CPC standing committee, Professor Liuli, Beijing Language and Culture University’s president, Dr. Malcolm Butler, vice president of the University of Sheffield and other board members and the relevant staff.

Wang extended his greetings to the participants and fully acknowledged the excellent achievements made by Sheffield’s CI in the past 15 years.

This year, said Wang, marks the 120th anniversary of Nanjing University and the 50th anniversary of the China-UK Ambassadorial diplomatic relations.

Wang hoped that at this time, the CI will further exploit its strengths, create a new situation of inter-university cooperation, and strive to promote international exchange in the humanities, thus contributing to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Professor Liu and Dr. Butler also addressed the meeting.

The board approved CI’s annual report, its 2021 financial report, its 2022 financial budget and its application for changes in board members.

The board also discussed the celebration plan in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of Sheffield’s CI.

The CI at the University of Sheffield was set up in January 2007, as the first one established by Nanjing University in cooperation with an overseas university.

It has won three times the title of the world’s “Advanced Confucius Institute” and has been named a “Global Model Confucius Institute.”

It plays an important role in international Chinese language education.