BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/12/2007

Great fascination for Chinese culture spreads in Minsk

It's fifteen years since China and Belarus established diplomatic relations. There have been many and diverse cultural exchanges during that time. The two countries share a deepening understanding. The study of the Chinese language has enjoyed growing popularity in Belarus.

Two universities in Belarus set up departments for Chinese language studies. At the beginning of last year, four primary schools in the capital Minsk introduced Chinese language study as a compulsory course. A dozen middle schools around Belarus offer Chinese language lessons as electives. The enthusiasm has spread to the older generation. Parents of many students joined the kids, not just learning the language, but taking an interest in Chinese traditional arts, like the Peking Opera.

Principal of 10th Primary Schoool of Minsk, said, "We have 619 students in our school from Grades One to Eleven. 87 who are between six and seven are taking Chinese lessons. We've also arranged Chinese language classes for their parents and for our teachers as well."

Principal of 23rd Primary School of Minsk, said, "We established Chinese language courses as an investment in the future, to cultivate new skills and discover new talents to encourage even better cooperation in the future between Belarus and China."

Culture provides a solid foundation for mutual understanding. Language opens the way to communication even further, as China and Belarus look forward to the forging of even stronger ties for the future.

Source:

http://www.cctv.com/program/cultureexpress/20071229/101930.shtml