Australia's Tasmania opens first Confucius Classroom

The first Confucius Classroom in Australia's island state of Tasmania opens on Nov 18, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

The opening ceremony of the first Confucius Classroom in Australia's island state of Tasmania was held on Thursday at Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston.

Chinese Consul General in Melbourne Song Yumin said in the keynote speech that the opening of this Confucius Classroom comes at a time that coincides with the one year anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Tasmania which locates in southeast of the country.

"It brought back my memories of the meeting of 22 students with President Xi and Madam Peng at the Government House one year ago," Song said.

"It was an exciting moment and life long memory for me, and so is for you, I believe," he told the students.

He stressed the visit had substantially promoted the relations between China and Australia.

"Great progresses have been made since the visit. I happily find that a solid connection is established," he said, "The Confucius Classroom is another very important landmark of our friendship. Learning of each other's language and culture is crucial in the development of a friendship."

Song told the students that they are the future. The sister-ships between Scotch Oakburn College and Jingshan School of Beijing are more important than trade figures, which will nurture the shared future of both China and Australia.

This Confucius Classroom is the very first of its kind the whole state of Tasmania. According to staff of Scotch Oakburn College, the Confucius Classroom will undoubtedly provide the students with a wonderful platform to improve their command of Chinese language and culture, and will also play an exemplary role in promoting the Chinese language teaching and learning in Tasmania.