Zhang Yuanyuan, the Chinese ambassador to Belgium, addresses the first joint conference of Confucius Institutes (CIs) in Europe, at Group T International University College Leuven, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2009.

She asked the delegates to outline the long term development of CIs around the world and discuss ways on how to strengthen the training of local teachers, develop teaching materials, and serve their communities.

Zhang Yuanyuan, the Chinese ambassador to Belgium who also attended the opening ceremony, said he hoped that "Confucius Institutes in Europe will take full advantage of the continent's fertile soil of culture and human development and turn their schools into successful examples of education cooperation and inter-civilization dialogue."

Yves Leterme, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, addresses the first joint conference of Confucius Institutes (CIs) in Europe, at Group T International University College Leuven, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2009.

To date, 282 CIs and 114 Confucius classes have been established around the world. The nonprofit institute, named after China's ancient philosopher Confucius, was first established in 2004 to help non-native speakers learn Chinese.

Editor: Feng Hui