Confucius Institute Day celebrated in eastern US

Five Confucius Institutes at the New England area of US Saturday held a Chinese Culture Night in Providence, Rhode Island, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the first overseas Confucius Institute.

Confucius Institutes at Bryant University, University of New Hampshire, University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island, and Central Connecticut State University jointly held a series of Chinese cultural events in the Waterfires Festival of Providence, attracting both local people and tourists.

Students from Bryant University and China's Zhejiang University presented to the audience Chinese dragon dancing, Kongfu show, Peking Opera and Chinese traditional music. (They also displayed Chinese calligraphy, paper-cutting and folk arts.

The Waterfires Festival is a widely attended event in New England, attracting tens of thousands of people to interact with the local community.

Zhang Meifang, Chinese Deputy Consul-General in New York, said the activities of these Confucius Institutes will enrich the festival and serve as a bridge connecting various cultures and a path leading toward a harmonious and diversified community.

Established in October 2006, the Confucius Institute at Bryant University was the first China-funded institute in Southern New England dedicated to the promotion of Chinese language and culture. Each year, some 2,000 people learn Chinese language and other forms of Chinese culture and arts here.

"We' ve worked very hard in the past eight years. From the U.S. standpoint and Chinese as well, it has been a very great way of collaboration for culture exchange," said Ronald K. Machtley, President of Bryant University.

The Confucius Institute Day was also celebrated on Saturday in New York City and Boston.