Confucius Institute welcomes community

The Confucius Institute welcomed the Darwin community on to Casuarina campus for a day of Chinese art and culture to mark Global Confucius Institute Day.

Confucius Institute Director Professor Martin Jarvis said the two-day celebration was a great opportunity to celebrate and strengthen ties with the local community.

"The institute works closely with the community to strengthen and preserve their cultural heritage, while providing tertiary education to those wanting to pursue Chinese language and cultural studies,” Professor Jarvis said.

During the celebrations at CDU's Theatre, the namesake for the institute was honoured by students and community groups for his contribution to Chinese culture. Territorians were treated with Chinese traditional food and tried their hands at traditional instruments, and calligraphy, as well as enjoying performances by colourful lion and fan dancers.

The Northern Territory’s Confucius Institute is a partnership between CDU and the Anhui Normal and Hainan universities in China. It was established to increase awareness of the friendship between China and the Territory, and to promote an understanding of Chinese culture with a focus on teaching Chinese culture and language.