OPENING OF THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE

The opening ceremony of the Confucius Institute at the University of Banja Luka was held on January 21, 2018, with Mr Milorad Dodik, President of the Republic of Srpska, and Mr Xiao Haishan, Deputy Mayor of the City of Tianjin (China), revealing the plaque at the Faculty of Political Sciences, the future seat of the Institute.

 Apart from them, the ceremony was attended by Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, Ms Zeljka Cvijanovic, Mayor of the City of Banja Luka, Mr Igor Radojicic, ministers in the Government of the Republic of Srpska, as well as representatives of academic, social, and cultural circles of Banja Luka and the Republic of Srpska.

‘We hope to strengthen our relations with China through this Institute, and thus contribute to the development of the Republic of Srpska and its global positioning’, said the Acting Rector, Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, who thanked all those who supported opening of such an institution, thus enabling the University and, consequently, the Republic of Srpska, to join the numerous family of 525 Confucius Institutes throughout the world, with more than 9 million students attending various courses on different aspects of Chinese culture.

‘The opening of the Confucius Institute is a proof of friendship and successful cooperation of the Republic of Srpska and China,’ said President Dodik, pointing out the importance of the event for both the University and the Republic of Srpska, and reminding the present that the actual realization of the project had taken several years.

Following the revealing ceremony, Prof. Gajanin, on behalf of the University, and Prof. Liu Sin, Rector of the University of Tianjin, signed the Agreement on Implementation between the two institutions

‘I have witnessed the friendly attitude of the people of the Republic of Srpska towards the people of China, and I wish for this Institute to become one of the most renowned institutions of this type’, said Rector Sin.

Among the high officials attending the ceremony, there was the Ambassador of China to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Ms Chen Bo, who expressed her gratitude to the leadership of the Republic of Srpska for their activities aimed at opening the Institute.

CONCERT AT THE BANSKI DVOR CULTURAL CENTRE

The opening ceremony at the Faculty of Political Sciences was followed by a gala concert held at the Banski dvor cultural centre, featuring the Symphony Orchestra of the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka and the Students’ Performing Group of the University of Tianjin, who performed pieces of classical music and folk songs.

SEE PHOTO GALLERY HERE