Jointly built by the Beijing International Studies University (BISU) and the University of Panama, the Confucius Institute of the University of Panama held its 2022 annual council meeting online on June 24.

José Emilio Moreno, vice-president of the University of Panama, said in his speech that the BISU has been keeping close communication and cooperation with the university. The two schools have jointly built the Confucius Institute into an influential platform  for facilitating the two countries’ communication in education, culture and academic fields. He noted that in December 2019, after the evaluation of more than 500 Confucius Institutes around the world and over 1,000 Confucius classrooms, the Confucius Institute of the University of Panama was awarded the title of “global advanced Confucius Institute”. 

He added that since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the Confucius Institute has been continuing its Chinese language courses, various competitions and cultural activities to deepen the understanding of Panamanian people, especially local students, of China. He said he believes that learning and mastering Chinese language will help Panamanian students to fulfill their dreams. 

Zheng Chengjun, vice-president of the Confucius Institute of the University of Panama, said in his speech that the institute has received many achievements since its establishment. He said he hopes that it can further implement its functions of promoting Chinese language globally and spreading Chinese culture, making itself a platform of sharing Chinese stories through good communications and a window to showcase  Beijing’s culture. The BISU will fully support the Confucius Institute of the University of Panama to build “Beijing cultural and tourism center” in Panama and push forward the communication and cooperation between the BISU, the University of Panama and the countries' ministries and departments concerned. He said he is looking forward to the two universities to enhance communication between teachers and students and strengthen scientific researches. 

The Confucius Institute of the University of Panama has rich teaching contents with various forms and wide coverage. Within nine months of its establishment, the institute has covered all public universities and part of key primary and secondary schools in Panama. These universities and schools all included Chinese language as their compulsory course, selective course or extracurricular course. The institute has carried out a major Chinese language project “Chinese language+”. It is the only HSK test center in Panama as well as the Chinese-language test center for Panama's tourist guide certificates. In terms of characteristics and innovation projects, the Confucius Institute's pilot project of immersive Chinese language teaching is a first in Latin America; the “Chinese painting class” arts exchange program carried out by the Confucius Institute, the Department of Art of University of Panama and ASA Foundation of Panama has become an influential brand project in local places. 

The students of the institute have won two global first prizes at the First Chinese Bridge-Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students and a third prize at the 14th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students. At the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Chinese Bridge, local teacher Aniya won the prize of “outstanding contribution of Chinese Bridge teachers” that was only awarded to 20 Confucius Institute teachers in the world. 

In 2021, the institute signed a cooperation agreement on Chinese language teaching with the Panama national vocational training and development bureau and the United Nations Development Programme. In January 2022, BISU signed a cooperation agreement with the institute and the Panama ministry of social development to jointly offer Chinese language and culture teaching courses. 

The Confucius Institute of the University of Panama has carried out a number of cultural activities. It has established a children’s choir, Tai chi and martial arts teams, a dragon dance team and so on. It has organized many key cultural exchange activities, serving as a platform for China-Panama communication.