KIEV, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The 4th professional training course for Chinese language teachers in Ukraine was recently held at the Confucius Institute of the Kyiv National Linguistic University (KNLU).
Nearly 100 Chinese language teachers from local universities and schools, as well as young scholars, participated in the one-week training, conducted both in-person and online.
Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun delivered an opening lecture titled "China's Diplomacy in the New Era and Mutual Enrichment of Cultures: New Opportunities and New Developments in People-to-People Exchanges between China and Ukraine."
In the lecture, the ambassador outlined the key tenets of the Global Civilization Initiative, highlighted the history of mutual enrichment between Chinese and Ukrainian cultures, and encouraged representatives of Ukrainian society to seize opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
He emphasized the importance of respecting cultural diversity, promoting shared values, and advancing cultural exchanges between China and Ukraine based on the principles of equality and mutual learning.
Ma noted that in recent years, in-person cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries have been limited, while a relative shortage of teaching materials has posed an additional challenge for Chinese language education in Ukraine.
He praised Chinese language teachers at Ukrainian schools and universities for their continued commitment to teaching and promoting Chinese culture despite the difficulties.
Ma said the teachers' efforts have enabled more young Ukrainians to gain a deeper understanding of China and become closer to it. He described their dedication and professionalism as highly valuable and deeply meaningful.
Following the lecture, the ambassador and the course participants discussed practical challenges that arise in teaching Chinese in Ukraine.
Karina Gevorgyan, the Ukrainian director of the Confucius Institute at the KNLU, told reporters that the course was designed to provide Chinese language teachers in Ukraine with a systematic understanding of China's diplomacy in the new era.
According to Gevorgyan, the course would also deepen the teachers' appreciation of the important role of language, culture, and education in people-to-people exchanges for the mutual enrichment of cultures, as well as foster a stronger sense of responsibility in teaching Chinese.
