On March 11, 2015, Consul General and Ambassador Li Qiangmin from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China at Houston led a delegation of consular officials to visit the University of Central Arkansas and Confucius Institute.
Accompanied by Dr. Guo-ou Zhuang, Director of CI and Dr. Xiaohong Lu, Deputy Director of CI, Consul General Li met with president Tom Courtway, Provost Steven Runge, Associate Vice President Jane Ann Williams and Director of International Engagement Ashley Pettingill.
President Courtway gave a warm welcome to ambassador Li and spoke highly of CI’s contribution to Chinese language teaching, Chinese culture promotion in Arkansas. Mr. Li expressed his gratitude to President Courtway for his support for CI, and expected further cooperation with in the good environment of collaboration between China and United States.
After the meeting, Dr. Zhuang and Dr. Lu accompanied Mr. Li and officials to visit CI, introducing CI projects and activities. At the CI office, Mr. Li talked to Hanban teachers, whom he compared to “unofficial ambassadors”. He gave his appreciation for their work, and noted that he will give full support to the development of CI.