Nepali Chinese-learning students gathered in Kathmandu University on Saturday to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the university.

The enthusiastic Nepali students, eager to learn Chinese, attended the Confucius Institute for cultural exchange with the neighboring country.

"Chinese is one of the important languages spoken by a large number of people in the world, so to understand such a language is worthwhile," said Rajiv Ranjit, a student told Xinhua during the celebration.

Aware of language barrier between two countries amid diverse opportunities, most of the students were attracted by the Confucius Institute.

"To be able to communicate with Chinese people is beneficial for cultural exchange," said Ranjit who has done Master's Degree in Anthropology from the Nepali University.

Not only students like Ranjit, more than 600 regular students and 30 teachers have been trained at different levels, including business programs, tour guide programs, professor programs, university programs and 16 Chinese-interest programs, which involved 600 students in middle schools and primary schools.

Confucius Institute was established at the university with an agreement signed between the university authority and the Office of Chinese Language Council International in February 2007 with the objectives of strengthening educational cooperation between Nepal and China, supporting and promoting the development between the two peoples.

"Students enjoy learning Chinese. Whenever we enter college, students run toward us and say 'Ni Hao'," said Yin Wei, a volunteer Chinese teacher who came to Nepal in April this year.

Along with Yin, another 30 volunteer Chinese teachers have worked in Nepal with the purpose of teaching Nepalese students in various places such as Kathmandu, Pokhara and Biratnagar.

"Some of them are teaching in high schools, some in primary schools and some others teaching adults in various institutes," Yin said.

"I like Nepali students very much, they are very warm-hearted," she added.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Qiu Guohong said, "Over the past two years, the directors and teachers from both China and Nepal have made positive and valuable contributions for the healthy growth of the Institute."

According to him, Institute has turned into a venue for Nepalese people to study Chinese language and understand Chinese culture, a platform for China-Nepal cultural exchanges and bridge to enhance China-Nepal friendship and cooperation.

The teachers at the Confucius Institute offered Chinese courses and held cultural activities in local communities.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2009)