Director Tao Yitao Visits Confucius Institute at Leiden University

    On October 11, Prof. Tao Yitao, director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), Shenzhen University (SZU) - a key research base of humanities and social science under the Ministry of Education, and also dean of the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRIICD), visited Leiden University on invitation and held a friendly talk with Maghiel van Crevel, a professor of Leiden University and dean of Confucius Institute at Leiden University (CILU), and Li Xinren, dean of the Confucius Institute on the Chinese side.

Group photo of director Tao Yitao and her party, Dean Maghiel van Crevel and Li Xinren, dean of the CILU on the Chinese side
 

    CILU is the first Confucius Institute in the Netherlands, which was jointly established by Leiden University and Shandong University in 2006. Located on the campus of the University of Leiden's School of Humanities, CILU aims to promote various cultural and academic exchanges by offering a wide range of language and cultural programs through collaboration with individuals and businesses. Dean Maghiel van Crevel is a prominent expert in Chinese literature, culture, language and translation. His research monograph on contemporary Chinese poetry Chinese Poetry in Times of Mind and Money: From the 1980s to the Early 21st Century has been published by Peking University Press.
    Prof. Tao Yitao briefed the dean on the CCSEZR, SZU - a key research base of humanities and social science under the Ministry of Education and BRRIICD and sent her new book Special Economic Zones and China’s Path and introduction materials of CCSEZR and BRRIICD to Dean Maghiel van Crevel as gifts. Prof. Tao Yitao said that language acts as a tool for cultural exchanges and is an integral part of culture. Language is the basis for communication, understanding and even identification of different cultures. The Confucius Institute played an active role in promoting the covergence of different cultures. The CCSEZR and BRRIICD have completed some meaningful and influential projects in introducing the successful experience of China's special economic zones to emerging economies and providing solutions with Chinese characteristics to the problems faced by developing economies. She hoped to cooperate with the CILU in finding win-win solutions in areas of common interest.
 

Director Tao Yitao and Dean Maghiel van Crevel pose for a photo

    Dean Maghiel van Crevel actively responded to the ideas of Director Tao Yitao and hoped to forge closer ties with the CCSEZR and BRRIICD. Then, they reached a preliminary cooperation intention. After the talk, accompanied by Dean Li Xinren, Prof. Tao Yitao and her party visited the CILU and campus and observed the class of the Confucius Institute.