Between culture, teaching and academic co-operation, the Confucius Institute of the University of Coimbra (ICUC) marked ten years of activity with a ceremony featuring tributes, testimonies and cultural moments that highlighted the institution's role in bringing Portugal and China closer together.

Among the guests was the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, Yang Yirui, who highlighted the Institute's journey, underlining its ability to follow its own path of development and achieve relevant results in teaching the Chinese language and promoting traditional Chinese medicine. The diplomat also considered the ICUC a fundamental platform for linguistic and cultural exchange between the two countries, emphasising that its success has had the continuous support of the University of Coimbra.

In turn, the Vice-Rector for External Relations and Alumni of the University of Coimbra, João Nuno Calvão da Silva, described the Confucius Institute as an "unequivocal success" project, making a broadly positive assessment of the past decade. He also highlighted the definition of new challenges for the future and expressed confidence in the continuity of the partnership.

João Nuno Calvão da Silva also praised the historic co-operation between the various faculties of the University of Coimbra and China, particularly through Macao.

(Source: University of Coimbra, on 3 June)