Feature: Chinese
Li Mei (L), Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Tehran, introduces Chinese tea culture to students during the Chinese Culture Week in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
TEHRAN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Any visitor to the Chinese Culture Week being held at the University of Tehran would be amazed by the Chinese tea, food, and various artworks produced through Chinese knotting and traditional paper cutting -- all displayed by Iranian students learning Chinese.
"Chinese knots are believed to bring good luck and act as charms that can ward off evil spirits," Zeinab Ghafourian, a 19-year-old sophomore studying Chinese at the Confucius Institute of the University of Tehran, told Xinhua on Tuesday.
The Chinese Culture Week, which started at the institute last Saturday and will last till Wednesday, aims to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians.
Held inside the lobby of the institute, which was established in 2009, the event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university.
On the reasons why she chose to study the Chinese language, Ghafourian said that she has been interested in East Asian cultures even since childhood. "In addition, the Chinese films have become more and more popular," she said.
More importantly, given Iran's good ties with China, mastering the Chinese language "offers better employment prospects" in the Iranian job market compared to other languages, she explained.
Mohammadreza Gholamrezaei, another sophomore at the institute, also said he chose to learn the Chinese language due to his strong interest in China's rich culture and history.
Noting that the Iranian and Chinese people enjoy many cultural commonalities, as they have been connected through cultural and economic exchanges via the ancient Silk Road in the long past.
"Given China's increasing global influence, as well as its friendly and expanded relations with Iran, learning about the country unmediated becoming very important," said Hamed Vafaei, the Iranian director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Tehran.
He believed that the students who are studying Chinese language at the institute would enter different sectors of Iranian society in the near future, helping more people to get to know more about China.
China is the world's second-largest economy, the most populous country, and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, so learning the Chinese language has become a necessity as many around the world have realized, he said.
"In addition, Iran needs to know its counterparts, one of the most important ones is China," Vafaei said, noting that Iran and China have built strong political, economic and cultural relations.
"Each of the students here is a window toward China, helping the Iranian people have a more realistic picture of the country, which will help improve bilateral relations," he added.
Students practice Chinese calligraphy during the Chinese Culture Week at the University of Tehran in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
A student shows her work of Chinese calligraphy during the Chinese Culture Week at the University of Tehran in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
A student participates in the Chinese Culture Week at the University of Tehran in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
A student participates in the Chinese Culture Week at the University of Tehran in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
A student practices Chinese calligraphy during the Chinese Culture Week at the University of Tehran in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
A student practices Chinese calligraphy during the Chinese Culture Week at the University of Tehran in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Li Mei (L), Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Tehran, introduces Chinese tea culture to students during the Chinese Culture Week in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Hamed Vafaei, Iranian director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Tehran, introduces Chinese culture to students during the Chinese Culture Week in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
A teacher of the Confucius Institute of the University of Tehran demonstrates Taichi during the Chinese Culture Week in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 28, 2023. A Chinese Culture Week was held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2023 at the University of Tehran, aiming to introduce Chinese culture to more Iranians. The event displayed a range of artworks that contain different elements of Chinese culture, produced by Iranian professors and students at the university. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Related articles
Kentucky congressman expects no voter fallout for his role in attempt to oust House speaker
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Fresh off his role in a failed attempt to topple the House speaker, Republica2024-05-22Jiangxi Improves Family Education Guidance Service Provision
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-22CCTF Launches Panda Protection Charitable Project in Dujiangyan
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-22- The Chinese embassy in the United States on Friday strongly rebuked the smearing words on China adop2024-05-22
Guardians ruin Francisco Lindor's Cleveland homecoming, trip Mets 3
CLEVELAND (AP) — Ben Lively had another solid start, David Fry drove in two early runs and the Cleve2024-05-22Across China: 'Village CEOs' Transforming Rural Dreams into Reality
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-22
atest comment