On June 19th, the Overseas Chinese Language Center, a collaborative effort between Shanghai Open University (SOU), the Open University of Sri Lanka, and the Bank of China's Colombo Branch, was officially launched at the Colombo Campus of the Open University of Sri Lanka. Zhang Jin, the Vice President of SOU, P.M.C. Thilakarathne, the President of the Open University of Sri Lanka, and Gao Xiang, the Deputy Branch Manager of the Bank of China's Colombo Branch, attended the launch ceremony and delivered speeches.
Zhang Jin, representing the SOU, expressed in her speech that the establishment of the Overseas Chinese Language Center is an important initiative for Shanghai Open University to serve the development of Belt and Road and promote cultural exchanges between China and Sri Lanka. She hoped that the center would become a multi-functional service platform integrating Chinese language classrooms, a window for Sri Lankan people to understand China, and a bridge for the younger generation of both countries to strengthen friendship, wishing the center to thrive and prosper.
P.M.C. Thilakarathne stated in his speech that the teaching resources provided by SOU would benefit the students of the Colombo Campus and are expected to extend to the nine regional branches of the Open University of Sri Lanka. He encouraged students to explore more possibilities through language learning, to understand different cultures with an open mind and curiosity, and looked forward to the joint efforts of the three parties to build a more perfect Overseas Chinese Language Center.
Gao Xiang expressed in his speech that the Bank of China's Colombo Branch would assist the university in communicating with the Sri Lankan Embassy in China, the Chamber of Commerce, and local Chinese-funded enterprises, and provide internships and employment opportunities for outstanding students. He said that the joint development of the Overseas Chinese Language Center would help further promote exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy and culture between the two countries and deepen the integrated development of various fields.
The launch ceremony also included an oil lamp lighting ceremony symbolizing good wishes and a student dance performance. After the ceremony, the first Chinese class of the Overseas Chinese Language Center started immediately, with students learning Chinese through a combination of online and offline methods.
The heads of the SOU’s Institute of International Exchange and the College of Humanities, along with some teachers, attended the launch ceremony online, while teachers and students from the College of Humanities of the Open University of Sri Lanka and some staff members of the Bank of China's Colombo Branch participated in the ceremony on-site.
