On September 8th, Chen Gang, Executive Vice President of Jilin University, received the Latin-American Delegation. Members of the delegation included Mr. Rodrigo Penailillo, former Interior Minister of Chile and former statesmen and representatives of think tanks, NGOs and media in Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica. Zheng Yao, Deputy Secretary General of Chinese Association For International Understanding, attended the meeting, along with personnel from the Office of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Government of Jilin Province. Relevant personnel from College of International Education and Division of International Relations as well as some Argentine students also attended the meeting.
Vice President Chen Gang expressed warm welcome to the delegation, and introduced Jilin University’s cultivation of international students as well as the academic exchanges between the university and its counterparts in Latin American countries. He expressed his hope that this meeting could strengthen cooperation and exchanges between Jilin University and Latin American academic institutes. Rodrigo Penailillo, head of the delegation, thanked Jilin University for its hospitality. He pointed out that China was a major economy with a long-standing history and culture and a sound educational system, thus the cooperation potential was huge. He hoped that more young Argentine people could study in Jilin University. Then other members of the delegation took turns and delivered their speeches that showed their readiness for more cooperation in the future. During the meeting, the two sides had in-depth discussion and exchanges on some educational issues.
After the meeting, the delegation visited the Central Campus of Jilin University and had a friendly conversation with Argentine students. Then they resumed their visit in Jilin Province.
Of Universities in Latin America, University of Buenos Aires is the one that Jilin University cooperates the most with. In May, 2009, Jilin University and University of Buenos Aires established a Confucius Institute, the first in Argentina. Every year, the Confucius Institute sent teachers and students for short-term courses and exchanges to Jilin University. The Confucius Institute was awarded “World Outstanding Confucius Institute” by Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters in 2009 and 2011.
By now, Jilin university has admitted 150 Latin American students, 140 of which are Argentine, seven Mexican and three Chilean. This semester ten Argentine students sponsored by Confucius Institute Scholarship study in Jilin University.
