From May 7 to 8, the 2nd Southeast Asia Confucius Institute International Academic Conference and the 1st Indonesia Confucius Institute Exchange Forum were successfully held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event was jointly organized by the Confucius Institutes at Al-Azhar University Indonesia, Universitas Sebelas Maret, and Universitas Balikpapan. It brought together prominent officials, scholars, and educators from across Southeast Asia and China, marking a significant milestone in international Chinese language education.
Distinguished Attendees
The conference was attended by:
Zhao Lingshan, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese International Language Education Foundation
Wang Siping, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia
Nunuk, Director-General of Teachers and Education Personnel at Indonesia’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education
Munardo, Director of Region III at Indonesia’s Ministry of Education
Bari, Head of the Jakarta Teachers and Education Personnel Center
Asep Saefuddin, Rector of Al Azhar University
Woko, Rector of Tanjungpura University
Iwan, Rector of Ganesha University of Education
More than 100 representatives, including experts, scholars, Confucius Institute directors, and local Chinese language teachers from China, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries, also participated. Ouyang Songying, Vice President of Fujian Normal University (FNU), was invited to deliver a video speech during the opening ceremony.
Key Milestone: Launch of the Indonesia Confucius Institute Exchange Forum
The opening ceremony featured the official launch of the Indonesia Confucius Institute Exchange Forum (ACII), signaling a new phase of collaborative development for Confucius Institutes in Indonesia. This transition reflects a shift from “individual breakthroughs” to “systematic development” in international Chinese language education. The forum aims to provide valuable insights for building a Southeast Asian language and cultural community and fostering deeper regional integration.
Vice President Ouyang Songying’s Speech
In his video address, Ouyang Songying highlighted Fujian Normal University’s active role in supporting Belt and Road educational initiatives through international Chinese language education. He emphasized the university’s unique geographical advantages and comprehensive strengths in disciplines, talent development, research, and cultural exchange. Through its collaboration with the Confucius Institute at Al Azhar University Indonesia, FNU has contributed to the development of localized curriculum standards, helping to build a cultural bridge that spans mountains and seas. These efforts have fostered mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Indonesia.
Ouyang also outlined FNU’s vision for advancing the high-quality development of international Chinese language education. He proposed exploring integrated approaches, such as:
“Language + Technology”: Merging linguistic education with technological innovation.
“Education + Industry”: Bridging academic learning with practical applications in local industries.
By promoting connectivity, integration, inheritance, and innovation, Fujian Normal University aims to inject continuous momentum into regional prosperity and foster deeper collaboration between domestic and international counterparts.
