The Dominican government in collaboration with the Chinese government has established a Confucius Classroom at the Dominica State Collage (DSC) campus. Commissioned on Thursday, May 26, 2022, the Confucius Classroom will foster cultural exchange where Dominicans can learn Chinese culture and language and where Chinese nationals can learn English Language and Dominican ways of life.
The DSC in partnership with Xidian University in China facilitated the construction and launching of the Confucius Classroom – and it was commissioned by PM Roosevelt Skerrit, Dominican President Charles Savarin, Chinese Ambassador to Dominica Lin Xianjiang, DSC President Dr. Donald Peters, and Minister of Education Octavia Alfred among other top government functionaries.
The construction of the Confucius Classroom building first started in 2018 and was supposed to be commissioned in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic played a part in its delay. The centre is part of the Confucius Institute Programme for teaching Chinese language and culture around the world in 126 countries. There are seven Confucius Classrooms in the Caribbean – the eighth being in Dominica – 31 in the United States, and a total of 530 around the world.
PM Skerrit expressed delight at the commissioning of the Chinese culture centre and urged Dominicans to take advantage of the offerings there. He explained that Dominicans will be able to learn the culinary skills, martial arts, and cultural language of the Chinese people, while Chinese citizens will also be able to learn English and Dominica’s native tongues, history, and cultural values among others.
Today, I am pleased to welcome this new facility to the Dominica State College. I hope our young people in particular will grab this opportunity to gain knowledge an understanding of a culture other than our own, as these experiences will serve them well as members of a global community.
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
The prime minister also praised the global strenght of the Chinese people and how this impacts their work ethos anywhere they find themselves.
We cannot deny the position of China as a global force with a culture that inspires admiration and wonder. I believe our people stand to learn a lot from the Chinese principles of hard work and discipline. The traditional cultural values of China also include benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and wisdom which are all admirable characteristics we can emulate.
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
The Chinese Ambassador to Dominica, His Excellency Lin Xianjiang, said President Charles Savarin approved of the centre as helpful to both Dominican and Chinese nationals in the Nature Isle.
I am very interested in Dominica’s culture; the people here are very optimistic and your traditional dance is very distinctive and the Creole Music Festival is also very famous. So it is a real pleasure for me to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Dominica allowing more Chinese people to appreciate the unique charm of the Dominican culture.
His Excellency Lin Xianjiang, Chinese Ambassador to Dominica
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