On August 25th, local time, Chen Lijuan, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Antananarivo, received the Medal of Chevalier from the government of Madagascar in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting Chinese language in local areas and cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.
The awarding ceremony was held in a lecture theater of the School of Law, Economics, Management and Social Sciences at the University of Antananarivo. Over 800 people attended the ceremony, including Jean Eric Rakotoarisoa, President of Madagascar’s Supreme Constitutional Court, Christian Ralijaona, Secretary General of Madagascar’s Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Lala Rabarihoela, Head of Madagascar’s Ministry of Presidential Medal Awarding, Rocquie Rabemanantsoa, Chairman of the University of Antananarivo Council, Panja Ramanoelina, President of the University of Antananarivo, Yang Xiaorong, Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar, delegates from the Madagascar-China Friendship Association and Chinese-funded enterprises in Madagascar, faculties and students in the Confucius Institute and parents of graduates.
The awarding ceremony
On behalf of Madagascar’s Ministry of Higher Education and Research, ChristianRalijaona congratulated on Chen Lijuan’s contributions to the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Yang Xiaorong, from the Chinese Embassy in Madagascar, congratulated Chen on her well-deserved national award. In January 2015, Chen was appointed Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Antananarivo. Since then, she has devoted herself to promoting Chinese education and culture through facilitating classroom construction in local Confucius Institutes, helping Madagascan students to apply for Hanban Scholarship and assisting the Chinese Embassy in holding cultural events in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Madagascar.
Yang Xiaorong delivering a speech
On behalf of the University of Antananarivo, Rocquie fully affirmed Chen’s contributions to promoting the communication and cooperation between the university and Jiangxi Normal University, and many other Chinese universities and scientific research institutions. She enlarged the local enrollment in the Confucius Institute, increased the number of Confucius scholarship candidates, raised the standard of Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship and governmental grant for Chinese overseas students, and improved the teaching conditions of the Confucius Institute and so on.
Rocquie addressing the audience
Chen expressed her gratitude to the government of Madagascar, the Chinese Embassy in Madagascar, the Chinese-funded enterprises, overseas Chinese communities, all cooperative partners of the Confucius Institute and her colleagues. “I’m leaving this place, but every bit of Madagascar will still live in my heart, flow in my blood and be the very irreplaceable part of my life.” Chen said. She referred Madagascar as her second hometown, and wished all the best for the future of China and Madagascar.
Chen Lijuan is the current Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Antananarivo, and this award is not only a compliment of the government of Madagascar on her toilsome devotion and hard work for the last three years, but also an honor of the institute and a recognition of the unremitting efforts of China and Madagascar in promoting culture and education.
Xinhua News Agency Madagascar branch, MaTV, Central Africa Daily, L’ EXPRESS, Le Citoyen, Mdadagate, Sobika, Journal Sagesse and other news media outlets covered the event. (cited from Confucius Institute Headquarters, source: Confucius Institute at the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar)
