ROME, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at Sapienza University celebrated its 20th anniversary on Thursday, with over 60 guests from China and Italy attending.
China's Ambassador to Italy, Jia Guide, praised the Institute's role in promoting language and cultural exchange since its founding in 2005 as Italy's first Confucius Institute. Backed by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and Sapienza, the Institute has taught around 50,000 students and held over 400 cultural events, attracting 340,000 participants.
Leaders from BFSU and Sapienza highlighted the Institute's achievements in education, teacher training, and people-to-people ties. A new Confucius Classroom was also unveiled at the University of the International Studies of Rome (UNINT), marking the eighth such classroom under Sapienza's Institute.
The event featured performances by teachers and students, including Chinese songs and Peking Opera. ■
