| Bordering northwest China,Central Asia is.very important to China’s neighborhood diplomacy.China and the five Central Asian countries enjoy a long history of friendly and good-neighborly relations.Since the first Confucius Institute in Central Asia was established in Uzbekistan in 2004,Confucius Institutes have developed rapidly and become an important platform for cultural exchanges,friendship and cooperation between China and Central Asia,as well as an important subject and means of China’s new public diplomacy with Central Asia.On June 1 8,2020,Confucius Institute organizations carried out large-scale reform,ushering in a new era of development.In the new era,we need to comprehensively analyze the opportunities and challenges facing the development of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia,so as to achieve new leapfrog development.Central Asia is of great strategic significance to China.The development of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia bears a certain mission and adheres to three important concepts,namely,improving China’s national image,expanding cultural dissemination and strengthening regional soft power.To be specific,the development of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia aims to promote people-to-people exchanges between China and Central Asian countries,contribute to the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative,and further promote the building of a community with a shared future in the region.This paper analyzes the historical process and current achievements of the construction and development of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia.In the process of analysis and elaboration,deficiencies and dilemmas existing in the development and operation of Confucius Institutes are found.On this basis,more targeted and feasible development suggestions can be put forward.Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago,China and Central Asian countries have made concerted efforts to seek common development,creating unprecedented development opportunities for Confucius Institutes.The rapid development of strategic partnership between China and central Asian countries has promoted the continuous enhancement of mutual political trust between the two sides.The belt and Road Initiative has enhanced China’s influence in Central Asia.The continuous development of friendly cooperation between the two sides has made the people of central Asian countries understand China’s increasing willingness.Of course,the development of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia also faces a variety of external challenges.Firstly,the competition for influence in Central Asia is increasingly fierce among other big countries outside the region,and the further development of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia is facing great pressure.Secondly,CCVID-19 has impacted the development of Confucius Institutes in many ways.Thirdly,some Central Asian countries still have doubts about Confucius Institutes and remain cautious.In the face of various opportunities and challenges,Confucius Institutes should further strengthen strategic plannning,strengthen coordination between domestic and foreign countries,eliminate foreign doubts by diluting the color of government behavior,improve teaching quality by improving the teaching system,and enhance the attractiveness of Confucius Institutes.The development achievements of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia in the past 18 years are obvious to all.Confucius Institutes have indeed played a role in public diplomacy and met the needs of Central Asian countries to learn Chinese and learn more about China.However,due to the number,scale,school conditions and national conditions,such public diplomacy in Central Asia has played a limited role.Under the new circumstances,as an important means and subject of public diplomacy,Confucius Institutes should actively explore innovative ways of transformation and development,present a true,three-dimensional and comprehensive image of China to Central Asia,and make more contributions to the building of a Community of shared future for humankind. |
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