On February 13th, the Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro officially held its opening ceremony. It is jointly established by the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the only state-run university in Montenegro, the University of Montenegro, with Changsha University of Science and Technology as its designated Chinese partner. Over one hundred people attended the ceremony, including Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic, Chinese Ambassador to Montenegro Mr. Cui Zhiwei, ministers of Montenegro, Rector of the University of Montenegro, Prof. Radmila Vojvodić, Provost Chancellor of Changsha University of Science and Technology, Professor Jiang Changbo.
The Chinese and foreign deans of the Confucius Institute delivered their welcome speeches respectively. Mr. Deng Rong, the Chinese dean, read the congratulatory letter from Ms. Xu Lin, Director General of the Confucius Institute Headquarters. She said in his congratulatory letter that Montenegro was a country with a long history and splendid culture, and China’s trustworthy friend and good partner, that the Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro would set up an important platform for Montenegrin students and people to learn Chinese and Chinese culture, which would surely contribute to the promotion of the friendly relations between Montenegro and China.
Leaders from the University of Montenegro and Changsha University of Science and Technology delivered their speeches respectively, emphasizing their willingness to build a practical and featured Confucius Institute based on the principles of "mutual respect and friendly consultation, equality and mutual benefit".
Mr. Cui Zhiwei, the Chinese Ambassador to Montenegro, said in his speech that the establishment of the Confucius Institute in Montenegro was an important achievement in the field of cultural exchanges between the two countries, would open a new chapter in bilateral cultural exchanges and cooperation, and play an active role for the promotion of friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in various fields.
President Vujanovic said in his speech that bilateral economic and trade exchanges had become increasingly frequent and increasingly close among personnel exchanges, that the Confucius Institute was an important part of cultural exchanges between the two countries, and that its establishment would meet the increasingly growing demand by the Montenegrins for Chinese language and culture, would become a bridge of friendship between the two peoples and promote the further development of bilateral relations.
After the opening ceremony, the two schools held its first session of the Council of the Confucius Institute.
The time the Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro was established coincides with the successful bidding by Chinese enterprises in construction of Montenegro North-South Expressway. The Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro held a series of promotional activities to prepare for the opening ceremony, as well as to strengthen China's economic and cultural exchanges with the Montenegrins. A specifically produced video titled "Chinese people in Montenegro" and the promo from the Confucius Institute Headquarters were aired at the ceremony, which received unanimous acclaim.
