In Uzbekistan, in cooperation with Lanzhou University and Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, the Confucius Institute in Tashkent has sponsored a series of activities focusing on learning Chinese language and culture—including lectures on literature and Spring Festival galas—since the institute was founded five years ago. It successfully hosted the Fifth Chinese Bridge in Uzbekistan. It has also organized Uzbek teachers to attend training courses in China, and recommended a number of students to go to China for further studies.

In March 2010, the Tashkent Confucius Institute hosted a grand party to celebrate China's Spring Festival. The wives of ambassadors and diplomats from 50 countries and various international organizations were present at the gala performance. The guests wrote the Chinese character fu (happiness) together with students who also performed traditional Chinese dance, songs and martial arts.

Confucius Institute

The demand for Chinese language study is growing rapidly as China extends exchanges with other countries. Since 2004, based on the experiences of countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Spain in the promotion of their mother tongue, China has explored ways of establishing overseas non-commercial organizations focusing on Chinese language training and spreading Chinese culture. The organization was named "Confucius Institute" after the name of Confucius (551-479 B.C.), a great thinker in China and the founder of the Confucianism. The headquarters of these overseas institutes is in Beijing.

By the end of 2009, a total of 282 Confucius Institutes and 272 Confucius classes have been founded in 88 countries and regions. In addition, more than 250 institutions in over 50 countries, including world-class universities, have submitted applications to the headquarters in Beijing to jointly set up institutes. By the end of 2009, the Confucius Institutes around the world have offered more than 9,000 Chinese-learning classes, with registered students of 260,000, and provided more than 7,500 cultural events for over 3 million people.

A Confucius Institute is run jointly by Chinese and foreign partners. Currently, there are five modes of cooperation—between a Chinese university and a foreign one; between a Chinese middle school and a foreign one; between a Chinese university and overseas communities and organizations; between local governments of China and foreign countries; and between a Chinese university and foreign enterprises.

Experienced teachers in teaching foreigners Chinese and qualified volunteers have been selected from China and sent to Confucius Institutes all over the world. In 2009, the Confucius Institute Headquarters trained and sent 2,060 teachers to 109 countries, with another 2,740 volunteers assigned to 71 countries. Meanwhile, continuing efforts are being made by the headquarters to upgrade its training for foreign teachers.

(Source: Confucius Institute Headquarters)