8 things about the Confucius Institute

1. The opening of the first Confucius Institute was in Seoul in 2004.
2. China uses culture as a diplomatic platform to enhance its image and project its soft power.
3. China's influence is growing steadily, the thrust for the future is not only to export more goods, but also showcase the life and culture of the nation.
4. China wants to forge greater trust with the world, especially through more cultural exchanges, as it helps build the global image of a peaceful rising power.
5. Confucius Institutes have emerged as China's most successful global brand for promoting Chinese language and culture
6. By the end of last year, there were about 358 Confucius Institutes and 500 Confucius classrooms in five continents, covering 105 countries and regions, with registered students more than 50 million.
7. Students taking classes at the Confucius Institutes feel that learning Chinese also increases their future employment opportunities
8. Confucius Institutes have helped train people in Chinese, which experts believe is also conducive to the expansion of other Chinese culture, particularly literature

From Message and the medium Asiaone News