India’s first Confucius Classroom, a centre for teaching Chinese language and culture, was inaugurated by the Consul General of China in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu on Tuesday.
The centre is a joint venture between the Yunan Normal University of China and a Kolkata-based private institute that has been receiving support from the Consulate General of China in terms of student exchange programmes with Chinese schools and universities.
“We have worked closely with the School of Chinese Language, a private institution. We encourage them to take care of the Chinese language courses and the Chinese language tests here in this part of India,” the Consul General of China in Kolkata Mr. Ma said. Besides language teaching, training in dance and martial arts will also be offered.
Mr. Ma said that the Confucius Classroom will help job seekers find lucrative opportunities. “Those who have studied Chinese will be able to find better paying jobs and those who want to engage in business with China and visit the country will want to grasp the language,” said Mr. Ma.
Beijing is pushing Confucius institutes across the world to promote cultural diplomacy.
