Opening of the first regional Confucius Institute at Francisk Skorina Gomel State University is planned for late November – early December 2017. The corresponding agreement was signed on August 24 during the visit of the official delegation from Nanjing University of Science and Technology (China).

Organizational issues concerning this event were discussed during the meeting of the Chinese guests with the Vice-rector for Science Oleg M. Demidenko and the Head of the Scientific Research Institute of Physics and Chemistry Aleksandr V. Rogachev. They discussed the particular issues on the opening ceremony and the main work concepts, determined the classroom facilities and financing peculiarities.

Professor Rogachev made a proposal on inclusion of the International Chinese-Belarusian Scientific Laboratory on Vacuum Plasma Technologies into Confucius Institute.

“This is a fair opportunity to enhance cooperation between our Universities, and as supplementary to development of cultural and educational sphere, put emphasis on the development of the scientific and technical cooperation”, Professor Rogachev mentioned.

The visit of the Chinese delegation was closed at the Confucius room, where the guests attended the presentation on the development of the cultural relations between the partner educational institutions, the lectures of the professors and students, demonstrating perfect Chinese language proficiency.

“Keen interest in Chinese language tends to increase annually”, stated the Head of room Vladimir I. Koval. “The Belarusians regard it as the most widespread and popular language in the world”.

Vice-rector of Nanjing University of Science and Technology Wang Lianjun assented to this statement:

- Today we have seen the fruits of your work. In the long-term it will become more complex and multi-layered and gain traction in future.

The official date of the Confucius Institute opening will be announced when the corresponding Agreement between Francisk Skorina Gomel State University and Nanjing University of Science and Technology is signed.