Sinologists from CEE countries gather in Riga for symposium on research, pedagogy

More than 40 experts from 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries attended a symposium in Riga on Saturday, exchanging views on how to enhance Sinology research and Chinese language pedagogy in the region.

The experts were joined by representatives from Hanban, China's national office for teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and Chinese linguistic experts at the symposium which took place in the University of Latvia.

Co-organised by Hanban and the Confucius Institute of the University of Latvia, the symposium focused on three topics -- the Belt and Road initiative and Sinology studies, the role of Confucius Institutes in Chinese language pedagogy and the state of play of Sinology studies in the CEE countries.

Hanban representatives also introduced participants to new projects that aim to promote Chinese studies in these countries, including collaborative doctoral programmes, research fellowships, and publication grants.

In a welcoming speech, Indrikis Muiznieks, rector of the University of Latvia, highlighted the extensive opportunities for Sinology studies in Europe that come along with the Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative was proposed by China in 2013, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

Muiznieks said that with the Belt and Road initiative elevating China-CEE relations to a new level, people in CEE countries needed to deepen their knowledge of the Chinese language, history and culture.

"Founded in 2011, the Confucius Institute of the University of Latvia is the first one in the country, and it has gone through rapid development for the past five years," he said, adding that the symposium have brought together the most esteemed Sinologists in the region, and will contribute tremendously to the China-related studies in universities and institutions in Latvia and its neighbouring countries.

Peteris Pildegovichs, a senior expert on Chinese linguistics and pedagogy at the university and co-director of the Confucius Institute, said he had witnessed the development of Sinology in the country, and looked forward to more young talents joining in the endeavour to promote mutual understanding of China and CEE countries.

The 16 CEE countries are Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.