Xidian University, one of China's top technological schools headquartered in Xi'an, Shaanxi province in Northwest China, signed an agreement on Dec 4 with Dominica State College in the Dominican Republic for the construction of the Research Center for Area Studies in the Caribbean Region.
Zhang Xinliang, president of Xidian University, said in his speech that since the approval of the Confucius Classroom at the Dominica State College, the two sides have actively cooperated and overcome difficulties together. Through language ties, the two sides have carried out effective work in promoting mutual understanding between China and Dominica.
“Civilization requires communication and mutual learning, and the Confucius Classroom has become a window for the Dominican people to understand Chinese culture. In the future, we will also strive to become a window for bringing Dominican culture into China,” Zhang said.
Zhang also said that the joint construction of the Research Center for Area Studies in the Caribbean Region is another important measure for the two schools to deepen cooperation. He hopes that both sides can leverage the respective strengths to build the research center into a platform for talent cultivation, scientific research cooperation, and education and cultural exchange between China and the Caribbean, making new and greater contributions to creating a closer friendly relationship.
Judy Kristin, president of Dominica State College, pointed out that the achievements of the two schools in the cooperation over the past three years are remarkable. The Confucius Classroom provides a venue for the Dominican people to learn Chinese, and the establishment of the Research Center for Area Studies in the Caribbean Region will undoubtedly strengthen the bond of cooperation between each other.
Dominica is located in the middle of the Caribbean island chain, with a very complex history and rich culture, making it a treasure trove of cultural research.
“I hope to build the research center into a model of exchange and cooperation between the Caribbean region and China in the field of education, deepen mutual understanding between Caribbean countries and China, and bring positive results to promote regional peace and development,” said Kristin.
Dominica State College was founded in 2002 and is located in Rosso, capital city of the Dominican Republic. It is the only public higher education institution in the country. The school has five colleges and 31 majors in art, science, and technology education, with approximately 2000 students enrolled.
In May 2020, Xidian and the school were approved to jointly build the Confucius Classroom at Dominica State College.
