ASEAN-China Language and Culture Centre Was Established in Beijing Language and Culture University

On 18 December 2013, the Inauguration Ceremony of ASEAN-China Language and Culture Centre (ACLCC) was held in Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). Mr. Cui Xiliang, President of BLCU, Madam Yang Xiuping, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, representatives of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, Mr. Ma Mingqiang, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre, Mr. Liu Baoli, Counsel of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Mr. Hu Zhiping, Deputy Director-General of the Headquarter of Confucius Institute, Mr. Zheng Dengwen, Deputy Director-General of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, officials of ASEAN Embassies in Beijing, and over 200 guests including ASEAN students studying in BLCU, attended the ceremony. 

In his remarks, Mr. Ma Mingqiang said that this year marks the 10th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership. ASEAN-China relations are deeply rooted in the peoples and will be better promoted through cultural and people-to-people exchanges. ASEAN-China Language and Culture Centre will become a prominent platform to showcase and promote ASEAN languages, culture and arts, facilitate ASEAN communities in China to learn Chinese language and culture, provide Chinese language training to officials of ASEAN Embassies in Beijing, as well as facilitate networking among ASEAN students studying in China.

Mr. Cui Xiliang, President of BLCU, introduced the advantages of studying at BLCU, and heralded BLCU as an international university with half of its students from abroad, including more than 600 students from ASEAN countries. BLCU will support ASEAN students to fully tap their potentials and to take advantage of ACLCC in promoting ASEAN languages, culture and arts, as well as to learn Chinese language and culture. He also expressed his sincere hope that the newly established ACLCC would further strengthen mutual understanding and friendship among ASEAN and Chinese students.

Mr. Ngurah Swajaya, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN, and Mr. Liu Baoli, Counsel of the Ministry of Education of China, expressed their congratulations to the establishment of ACLCC, and expressed their confidence that ACLCC will promote language learning, enhance mutual understanding, and connect people between ASEAN and China. On behalf of the Indonesian Government and the Chinese Government, they are both committed to providing support to BLCU and ACLCC. 

A student from Viet Nam, representing ASEAN students in BLCU, shared her experience of studying in BLCU and her love for China. She expressed her excitement following the establishment of ACLCC, and her willingness to promote ASEAN languages and culture with other ASEAN students. 

Mr. Ma Mingqiang and Mr.Cui Xiliang, accompanied by other officials, unveiled the plaque of the ASEAN-China Language and Culture Centre, officially announcing the establishment of ACLCC, witnessed by all distinguished participants.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing the ASEAN-China Centre Between the Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Government of the People's Republic of China", signed in 2009, stipulates the establishment of "a learning centre on arts, culture and language so as to enhance people-to-people contacts and to improve mutual understanding between the peoples and societies of ASEAN and China". 

ACC has been working closely with BLCU to co-sponsor the establishment of ASEAN-China Language and Culture Centre since early 2012, with the aim of promoting ASEAN languages, culture and arts, and helping forge ASEAN identity among ASEAN students. An MoU between ACC and BLCU on establishing ACLCC was signed in September 2013, during the 6th ASEAN-China Education Cooperation Week in Guiyang.