国内英语新闻:China hosts Chinese language program for foreign diplomats

BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) - The first Chinese language study program for foreign diplomats concluded on Saturday at Hanban, the executive body of the Chinese Language Council International.

The program, which started on February 27 with a two-hour class every Saturday, had attracted 31 diplomats from 16 countries to China. The countries included Slovenia, Benin, Poland, Cameroon, Kenya, Nepal, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Mexico, Afghanistan, and the Philippines.

"We have a lot to do in China and that makes us feel that it is necessary to learn Chinese. Not only have we learnt the Chinese language, we have also made friends with the dedicated teachers and volunteer students," said Tadeusz Chomicki, Polish Ambassador to China.

During the 17-weeks of classes, the foreign diplomats learned how to greet others, shop and ask time in Chinese. They also had classes on Chinese culture, experienced the Peking opera, paper cutting, Chinese calligraphy, and shadow boxing.

"They were always keeping a very high spirit to learn in all weather," said Xu Lin, director-general of Hanban. "Their enthusiasm towards the Chinese language has moved us a lot," she added.

Xu said Hanban had developed diversified methods such as open online classes and after-class online consulting, to help them learn Chinese better.

To meet the demand of more foreign diplomats to learn Chinese, Hanban will launch the next Chinese language program in September, Xu said.