Photograph Exhibition of 30 years of US-Sino Relations

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 04, 2009 – Pfeiffer University along with the Chinese Language Council International opens the Confucius Institute located at Pfeiffer’s Charlotte Campus on November 6th. The Confucius Institute’s main goal is to teach Chinese as a foreign language and to create different exchanges and co-operations in the educational and cultural fields. In order to achieve these objectives, the Confucius Institute establishes Chinese classrooms within schools, provides continuing education courses, and holds community wide events highlighting various aspects of Chinese arts, culture, history, and economics.

The Confucius Institute’s first exhibit showcases over three hundred photographs, each visually depicting a single moment in time over thirty years of diplomatic, cultural, and social history between the United States and China.

The display pays tribute to the establishment of official diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China. The two countries exchanged ambassadors and established diplomatic connections in 1979. This also marked the first time a Chinese governmental leader, the Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, paid an official good-will visit to the United States at the invitation of President Carter.

The exhibition is a gift from the Chinese Language Council International to benefit the Confucius Institute and the surrounding community. The photographs will be on display at the Pfeiffer Charlotte Campus from November 6th to December 6th.

Weihong Yan, Director of the Confucius Institute, expresses his thoughts on the three decades of diplomatic history on display. “Sino-US relations not only bring together the two countries and the interests of both peoples, but is also conducive to creating world peace and stability,” stated Weihong Yan.  “As director, I have a responsibility to create awareness  about such exhibitions to create a golden bridge between the people of both countries to facilitate further learning and cultural understanding.”