Capital celebrates new Chinese Corner

The thriving relationship between China and New Zealand’s Capital takes another positive step forward with the establishment of a Chinese Corner at the Wellington Central Library.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will join Chinese Ambassador Wang Lutong and Director of the Confucius Institute at Victoria University Wen Powles at 5.30pm this evening to officially open the Chinese Corner.

Three-hundred titles of free Chinese publications will be supplied, including 200 Chinese language teaching books and 100 other Chinese publications, and 150 titles annually in the next two years.

Mayor Wade-Brown says Wellington’s cultural and economic relationship with China is increasingly important. “Chinese language, both written and spoken, is really important to people of Chinese descent and to all Wellingtonians.

“The Chinese Corner will provide a great resource for those learning Chinese language and culture. This is a lovely example of mutual support, matching Wellington’s recent donation of books to the Xiamen Library,” she says.

Confucius Institute Director Wen Powles said, “Many more primary, secondary and university students in Wellington are now learning Chinese. The Confucius Institute provides teaching support to many schools.

“Having readily accessible library books in this new Chinese Corner adds a wonderful dimension to students’ enjoyment of learning, and will stimulate interest in subjects such as Chinese literature, history and culture.”

The project is organised by China Hanban, Confucius Institute Headquarters and China Educational Publications Import & Export Corp., Ltd (CEPIEC). China Hanban is a public institution affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education, committed to providing Chinese language and cultural teaching resources and services worldwide.

Xiamen Library has a Wellington Corner which was opened in 2008. In February 2015, Mayor Wade-Brown and Sam Elworthy, President of New Zealand Publishers Association, donated 50 books. The Chinese Corner is the second special language corner at the Wellington Central Library, after the Korean Corner opened in January 2015.

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