http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/29/content_6165854.htm
www.chinaview.cn 2007-05-29 04:17:18
China, Israel agree to set up Confucius Institute
TEL AVIV, Israel, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Israel signed an agreement
on Monday to establish a Confucius Institute at the Tel Aviv University (TAU).
The institute, which is expected to open in November, will be the first of
its kind in the Jewish nation.
Jointly established by Office of Chinese Language Council International of
China and TAU, the Confucius Institute is a non-profit educational
organization, and will provide non-degree Chinese language study programs to
Israelis. Teachers are from the TAU.
Addressing the signing ceremony, TAU President Itamar Rabinovich said "the
Israeli public are eagerly hoping that they could have the chance to know more
about the captivating Chinese culture."
He said he was convinced that the establishment of the Confucius Institute
at TAU will meet their mounting demand and promote the exchanges and
cooperation in education, culture and economic fields between Israel and China.
Chinese Embassador to Israel Zhao Jun termed the institute as anew platform
for the friendly exchanges between the two peoples and he believed that it can
contribute to the overall development of bilateral ties of China and Israel in
all fields.
At the moment, three Israeli universities are providing degree of Chinese
course, including the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University and
Haifa University.
Every year, about 40,000 Israelis visit China, among whom more than 50 go
to China to study language, culture, history and traditional medicine.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
