CITY OF MALOLOS — To enlighten Filipinos about the beauty of Chinese culture and its more widespread language Mandarin, the Bulacan State University (BulSu), the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Confucius Institute at the BulSu, organized a Mandarin Training Course that will be conducted through online streaming.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando were guests at the opening ceremony of the training course held on Friday.
The Chinese envoy tackled the beauty of the Chinese language, and the renewal of the thousand-year-old friendship of both countries and how they can jointly write a new chapter of China-Philippines relations.
Ambassador Huang also emphasized the relevance and significance of learning the Chinese language, being a bridge of communication, cooperation and mutual understanding, and to forging closer comprehensive strategic cooperation with the Philippines in the new era, and vice versa.
He said that enhancing mutual understanding and amity between China and the Philippines has proved to be responsive to the common aspirations of the two Asian neighbors, and also in line with the trend of times.
The Chinese official also expressed his appreciation for advocates and enthusiasts of Chinese language learning in the Philippines, wished the students to enjoy the beauty of the Chinese language, make achievements in the course, and put to good use what they acquired.
He also encouraged more Filipino friends to learn Chinese and see a true, multi-dimensional and panoramic China with their own eyes so as to become active supporters, contributors and beneficiaries of China-Philippines friendship and mutual learning.
He also thanked all parties involved in the training course, which is essential to getting to know China, strengthening the domestic cohesion of the Philippines, and deepening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The Confucius Institute at BulSU is the second of its kind in the Philippines and was formally launched on February 28, 2009.
The first one was established at the Ateneo de Manila University.
Joining Ambassador Huang and Gov. Fernando were BulSu president Cecilia Navasero-Gascon, chairperson Corina Bautista and Victor Mendoza of BCCI.
Governor Fernando pointed out the importance of the Chinese community to local society and China as a global economic and trading partner to the Philippines, including the province of Bulacan.
The Mandarin training course, which is essential to getting to know China, the governor noted and is looking forward to greater contributions made by the students to the economic and social development of Bulacan and other areas of the Philippines and the friendship between the two countries.