Li Changchun (R, Front), a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with the university heads from 87 countries who are here to attend the fourth conference of Confucius Institutes, in Beijing, capital of China, December 11, 2009. Li watched here on Friday a performing art show presented by students of the Confucius Institutes from 22 countries and visited a Confucius Institutes exhibition. [Xinhua]

A Senior Chinese official Friday called for promoting Chinese language education via Confucius Institutes around the globe.

State Councilor Liu Yandong told the fourth conference of Confucius Institutes that the institutes had become an important brand of international Chinese language education and a platform for educational and cultural exchanges.

The conference was attended by university heads from 87 countries.

Liu, also president of the Confucius Institute headquarters council, said different culture should respect and learn from each other and seek common grounds while shelving differences.

"Languages as carriers of culture and communication tools are bridges for different civilizations," she said, adding the Chinese government always encouraged cross-cultural communication and advocated the study of other nation's languages.

Liu said the Confucius Institutes should innovate and localize teaching methodology and strengthen overseas cooperation.

On Friday evening, students of the Confucius Institutes from 22 countries including Japan, Thailand, Mongolia and Australia staged a performing art show, featuring Chinese songs and dances, as well as Peking Opera.

Li Changchun, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, watched the show and praised students' performance.

He also visited a Confucius Institute exhibition.

Official statistics show 282 Confucius Institutes and 272 "Confucius classrooms" have been set up in 88 countries and regions as of November, since the first one was established in 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2009)