KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yunnan University in Kunming, China for the establishment of the first Confucius Institute for Chinese Language Studies in East Malaysia.
The MoU was signed by Chairman of UNIMAS Board of Directors, Datu Dr Hatta Solhi, while Yunnan University was represented by its Chairman of University Council, Professor Yang Lin.
The historic signing was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg, Governor of Yunnan Province, Ruan Chengfa, State Secretary, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, UNIMAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi and the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Fu Jijun.
The aim of the MoU is to formalise the cooperation between UNIMAS and Yunnan University in setting up the Confucius Institute of Chinese Language Studies at UNIMAS, which is at its final stage. Yunnan University formed in 1932, is one of the top universities in China and serves as a good role model to UNIMAS in various areas.
Once established, the institute will function as the key hub for promoting Chinese language learning and cultural exchange within the region as well as student and staff mobility programmes between the two universities.
More importantly, with the status of Kuching as Kunming’s sister city, the institute will play a productive role in the bilateral cooperation and friendship between China and Malaysia.
Also present at the event were the key officials of Yunnan Provincial and Sarawak state governments, senior management and academics of Yunnan University as well as representatives of UNIMAS Confucius Institute Working Committee.
