Beijing 21.09.2018, the University of Tirana Rector, Prof. Dr. Mynyr Koni conducted an official visit to the People’s Republic of China during September 17-21, 2018. During the visit, the UoT Rector held several official visits and discussions regarding the collaboration between the UoT and higher education institutions in China.

During the visit, the University of Tirana Rector was received by the Director General of the Hanban, an institution at the Chinese Ministry of Education, Ma Jianfei. Prof. Koni acknowledged the achievements of the Confucius Institute at the UoT with regard to Chinese language and culture promotion. In this regard, the UoT Rector emphasized that the number of Albanian students studying Chinese has markedly increased in the past two years. The Director of the Hanban expressed his and Hanban’s support to the University of Tirana, as well as the willingness of the Institution he leads to award scholarships to Albanian students with significant progress in Chinese language studies.

During the official visit to Beijing, the Rector, Prof. Koni was received in an official meeting by the Rector of the Beijing International Studies University (BISU), Prof. Dr. Ji Jinbiao. During the meeting, both rectors talked about enhancing the collaboration between both universities in the fields of joint interest. Rector Koni stated that the distinctive feature of the collaboration with BISU is the university’s recently-established department of Albanian language and culture.

In this regard, the UoT Rector promised to his counterpart that he himself and the institution would provide full support to further develop the department of Albanian language and culture. On the other hand, the BISU Rector, Prof. Dr. Ji Jinbiao proposed to the UoT Rector the undertaking of a special program by both universities, supported by Beijing Municipality to enable Chinese students of Albanian language and culture to attend the University of Tirana. At the conclusion of the meeting, both Rectors signed a framework cooperation agreement on academic, research and scientific exchange with BISU, which would enable

Chinese students to come to Albania to study Albanian language and culture in a more suitable manner. Afterward, students sang in Albanian and demonstrated their Albanian language proficiency.

During his visit to Beijing, the University of Tirana Rector, Prof. Dr. Mynyr Koni led the Confucius Institute’s Board meeting. The meeting touched on the work of the Confucius Institute in 2017 and 2018. During the meeting, the UoT Rector, Prof. Koni requested further standardization of the work of the Confucius Institute to improve effectiveness and actual results. Furthermore, both parties at the meeting agreed on the Confucius Institute delivering Chinese language classes in universities and high schools, as well as to the staff of several private businesses through institutional agreements to be signed by the Rector of the University of Tirana.

In the official visit to Beijing, the UoT Rector, Prof. Dr. Mynyr Koni was welcomed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania, His Excellency Mr. Selim Belortaja. The Rector informed Ambassador Belortaja on the activities and cooperation with higher education institutions in Beijing. Prof. Koni and Ambassador Belortaja also discussed about the steps to be taken to provide maximum support to the Albanian language department.