Welcome Message from the Institute Director

Dr. Liming Wang, Institute Director

China's rapid and sustainable growth over last 30 years has propelled it to become the world's fourth largest economy in 2006 and potentially its largest in the foreseeable future. This development has seen China’s 1.3 billion people begin a process of integration into the global economy and become a major driving force in the process of globalisation, particularly since joining the World Trade Organisation in 2001. This, of course, has led - and is leading - to a rapid growth in demand globally for learning the Chinese language (acting as a "bridge" and "carrier of Chinese culture") and an understanding of contemporary Chinese society and culture.

Both China and Ireland have a long history, profound cultural foundations, and both have created a miracle of economic growth with one in the East, and the other in the West. In recent years, bilateral relations have made remarkable progress. Rapidly developing economic and trade cooperation enabled bilateral trade volume to reach 5.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2006, 13 times its value only 8 years previously. Technology and education cooperation maintain a particularly good momentum.

With its unique position, network, and unmatched wealth of resources, the establishment of the Confucius Institute at University College Dublin marked a historical moment and is yet another milestone in the continuing development of cooperation between China and Ireland. We are willing to work together with the Irish government, business, and academia in contributing further to the growth and promotion of bilateral cooperation in education, culture, commerce and many other domains.

Since Ireland's economic takeoff, many people ask: “What is the secret of Ireland's economic success?” In this regard, the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern emphasized the crucial importance of developing education and investing in people by quoting an old Chinese proverb saying: "When planning for a year, plant corn, when planning for a decade, plant trees, when planning for life, train and educate people". I'm confident, with this mutual recognition in mind, the UCD Confucius Institute will serve as a "bridge" in Chinese and Irish cultural, economic, and trade development for many years to come.