On December 24, 2011, visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
Xi arrived at Chulalongkorn University at 10:20. Representatives of students and teachers of the University and the Confucius Institute waved the national flags of China and Thailand to extend the warmest welcome to Xi. President of Chulalongkorn University Pirom Kamolratanakul and Director General of the Office of Chinese Language Council International Xu Lin received him at the entrance.
Xi then went to the auditorium where more than 2,000 students and teachers were already seated. They all stood up and applauded loudly and the band played the national anthems of China and Thailand. Vice-president of Chulalongkorn University M.R. Kalaya Tingsabadh chaired the event.
Representatives of students and teachers of the Confucius Institutes and Classrooms at Chulalongkorn University and other Thai universities jointly presented a fascinating performance. The Greeting Dance with strong Thai features, the poetry recitation Heavenly Street with deep emotions, the melodic song Liuliu De Kangding Liuliu De Qing which is very familiar to the Chinese people, the martial art dance Mowu Zhonghua and the calligraphy of a Thai student in regular script "Thailand-China friendship" aroused one round of applauses after another and pushed the atmosphere to the climax.
Amidst the warm applauses of more than 2,000 students and teachers, Xi delivered an enthusiastic speech. He spoke highly of the important contributions of Chulalongkorn University to spreading the Chinese language and culture. As the best known university of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University has produced a large number of talented people in the fields of politics, economy, science, technology and culture. The Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University has opened such distinctive courses as the Chinese language, calligraphy, painting, martial art and music, held various Chinese language contests, celebrations of traditional Chinese holidays and lectures on the Chinese culture, which have drawn wide attention from the young students and all sectors of the Thai society and played an important part of deepening the traditional friendship between the two peoples.
He said that China and Thailand are close neighbors with a history of more than 1,000 years of friendly contacts. It is the common aspiration of the Chinese and Thai people that "China and Thailand are kith and kin" and their common desire to carry on the friendship from generation to generation. On the occasion that the Thai people just overcame the serious flood disaster, he visited Thailand following the path of the traditional friendship, bringing the sincere greetings of the Chinese people to the Thai people and the sincere expectation of the Chinese government to develop friendly cooperation with Thailand. He believes that China and Thailand will be good neighbors, good partners, good friends and good relatives living in peace and harmony and sharing weal and woe.
He pointed out that cultural exchanges are the important link to enhance the mutual understanding among people. He hopes that the Confucius Institutes at Chulalongkorn and other Thai universities make full use of the role of Confucius Institute as the platform of comprehensive cultural exchanges to make new contributions to increasing the understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Thai people, promoting the equal cooperation and mutual benefit between China and Thailand and advancing learning among human civilizations.
He noted lastly that youth are the future of a country and the hope of a nation. The script of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn "a long way to go" is full of sincere expectation on the young generation. The youth of China and Thailand shoulder the historic responsibility of carrying forward China-Thailand friendship. He hopes the young friends of Thailand study the Chinese language and culture sedulously, increase knowledge of China continuously and play the role of maintaining, carrying forward and promoting the China-Thailand friendship from generation to generation.
On behalf of the students and teachers of Chulalongkorn University, Pirom extended hearty welcome to Xi. He said that Xi's visit is a great honor to his university and will effectively encourage Chulalongkorn University's long-term commitment to Thailand-China cultural exchanges. Chulalongkorn University will take the opportunity of Xi's visit to further strengthen cooperation with China on Chinese teaching and cultural exchanges, make unremitting efforts to step up the friendship between the Thai and Chinese people and cultivate more talented people devoted to Thailand-China friendship.
Xi presented boos on Chinese teaching and Chinese culture to the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University.
At the end, Xi also visited the photo exhibition on the teaching achievements of Confucius Institutes in Thailand to learn about the teaching, training and exchange activities of Confucius Institutes and Classrooms. He then took group pictures with the representatives of directors and teachers of Confucius Institutes and Classrooms in Thailand who came here especially to meet Xi.