Global Confucius Institute Day: The Exhibition „Tea, Love and the World’’ Opened

In honour of marking the Global Confucius Institute Day, on 14 September 2020, the exhibition of photographs "Tea, Love and the World" was officially opened in the Dao Garden of the Confucius Institute at the University of Banja Luka.

„The successes of the Confucius Institute at the University of Banja Luka since its establishment were achieved with the selfless support of our colleagues from China and with the strong support of the Republic of Srpska authorities and the Serbian member of the BH Presidency Milorad Dodik, who recognized the importance of educating new generations as experts on China“, the rector of the University of Banja Luka, Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, said during the opening of the exhibition.

„As the rector of the University of Banja Luka, I am proud of the fact that the Confucius Institute has strengthened ties with the Banja Luka Grammar School, one of the largest and oldest schools in the Republic of Srpska, where our future students develop, and where the Confucius Classroom will be opened in October this year.“, the rector said during the event held in the Dao Garden of the Confucius Institute at the University of Banja Luka.

According to the rector, the plan is to start the Sinology Study Programme at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Banja Luka from next year. As he pointed out, the study of this study programme was adopted at the University Senate, and is expected to be licensed.

„We assume that the interest in sinology will be great. This study programme was made in consultation with our colleagues from China who have broad experience in this field“, Gajanin said.

Mayor of the City of Banja Luka, Igor Radojičić, MA, assessed that the Confucius Institute of the University of Banja Luka is one of the bridges of cooperation between Serbs and Chinese.

„We are also trying to cooperate with Chinese cities, such as Tianjin, and the possibilities of cooperation with China are endless in all areas. Economic relations will continue to be important in the future, as a number of Chinese companies are operating here ad working on large infrastructure projects. It is there Banja Luka and the Republic of Srpska should seek for their place“, Radojičić said.

One of the organizers of the exhibition, Prof. Ljubiša Preradović, PhD, said that the exhibition consists of 36 photographs selected by a special jury from China, out of a total of 200 photographs displayed around the world. According to Prof. Preradović, who is also the president of the International Association of Scientists, this exhibition will be open for 30 days, after which it will be moved to the School of Economics in Doboj.

This event, organised with respect for all epidemiological measures, was also attended by Advisor to the Serbian Member of BH Presidency Nina Sajić, PhD, Assistant Minister of Higher Education Radmila Pejić, PhD, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Strain Posavljak, PhD, Vice-Rector for Human and Material Resources Prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, the deans of the University of Banja Luka members etc.

In addition to the exhibition "Tea, Love and the World", the Confucius Institute of the University of Banja Luka and the International Association of Scientists are organising the promotion of the collection of poems "Dvoje" by Stevka Kozić Preradović and Ranko Preradović in honour of marking the Global Confucius Institute Day on 17 September at the Banski Dvor auditorium. Moreover, the promotion of the book "Vjesnici prvih znanja o Kini u srpskom narodu" by Selena Pjević is scheduled for 21 September at the Dao Garden of the Confucius Institute.