Hong Kong’s first Global Confucius Institutes Forum pioneers digital and AI advancement
A landmark event of Confucius Institutes worldwide, the first-ever “Global Confucius Institutes Hong Kong Forum” was held on the PolyU campus, gathering 150 delegates from 79 Confucius Institutes across 69 countries and regions, along with PolyU senior management, staff, and students. The event, also a flagship event of the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival, sought to explore innovative pathways for international Chinese language education in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and to advance collaborative global development of Confucius Institutes.
Co-organised by PolyU and its Confucius Institute of Hong Kong (CIHK), with support from the Chinese International Education Foundation, the Forum was themed “Exploring New Opportunities for Cooperation among Confucius Institutes in the Era of AI”. Through keynote speeches and dynamic parallel discussion sessions, participants shared cross-disciplinary insights and forged new connections to advance the global development of Confucius Institutes.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, stated, “As the Forum host, PolyU is honoured to gather Confucius Institute delegates from around the world for valuable exchanges and discussions, to explore new opportunities for cooperation among Confucius Institutes, the potential of integrating education and technology, and innovative ways to develop international Chinese education.” He also stated that PolyU and CIHK are committed to connecting Confucius Institutes globally, fostering cooperation to advance cultural exchange between China and the global community, promoting Chinese culture, and contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Dr Lam Tai-fai affirmed that PolyU and the CIHK remain dedicated to fostering global connections among Confucius Institutes.
A key highlight of the opening ceremony was the reading of the “Empowering Exchange and Integration through AI Transformation: Declaration of the Global Confucius Institutes Hong Kong Forum” by Dr Lu Qiaomei, Director of CIHK. The Declaration set out four key development directions: integrating digital, intelligent, and AI technologies into teaching, cultural exchange, and ecosystem development to strengthen global connections; creating multilingual, multi-scenario digital resources for personalised Chinese language education; harnessing immersive technologies to revitalise Chinese cultural expression, foster digital cultural exchanges, and promote mutual learning; and establishing cooperative mechanisms to enhance cross-border cooperation, building a global community that advances AI and digital innovation across Confucius Institutes.
Dr Lu Qiaomei, Director of the Confucius Institute of Hong Kong, read the “Empowering Exchange and Integration through AI Transformation: Declaration of the Global Confucius Institutes Hong Kong Forum”. |
Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, shared insights into international cultural communication in the digital era from the angle of cultural dissemination. |
Prof. Cao Jiannong, PolyU Vice President (Education), explored educational transformation in the AI era. |
Prof. Yang Hongxia, Executive Director of the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, and Professor of the Department of Computing, presented a novel fusion-driven AI innovation framework to seek breakthroughs. |
Since its founding in 2006 as the first Confucius Institute in China and the only one of its kind in Hong Kong, CIHK has played a vital role in promoting Chinese language learning, history, and contemporary society. It serves as a bridge between China and the world, advancing research and teaching about China and aspiring to become an international centre for young scholars in China studies.
By uniting representatives from Confucius Institutes and experts from diverse fields, the Global Confucius Institutes Hong Kong Forum injected fresh energy into the development of international Chinese education. The event underscored PolyU’s leadership in driving digital and AI innovation, fostering global collaboration, and shaping the future of cultural exchange.
