On February 14, the Confucius Institute at UKIM hosted its Chinese New Year Gala at the Faculty of Philology, celebrating the Lunar New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse. Approximately 200 guests attended the formal cultural program, including students, parents, friends of the Institute, and members of the Chinese community.
The gala opened with remarks by the two directors of the Confucius Institute, Professor Vlatko Stoilkov and Professor Liao Wei, who reviewed the Institute’s achievements over the past year and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Chinese language education and fostering cultural exchange. Mr. Xu Lei, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in North Macedonia, attended the event. Remarks were also delivered by Prof. Vladimir Martinovski, Dean of the Faculty of Technology.
The program featured performances by students and teachers, including singing, dance, traditional Chinese instruments, Tai Chi, and poetry recitation. These presentations reflected the students’ academic progress and growing engagement with Chinese language and culture. Four Macedonian primary and secondary school students served as masters of ceremonies, guiding the audience through the program with confidence and clarity.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Professor Aleksandar Skeparovski, Vice-Rector of UKIM, who emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and intercultural dialogue.
The gala once again underscored the Confucius Institute’s role as an academic and cultural platform promoting mutual understanding and sustained partnership between China and North Macedonia.
