The 2010 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Asia opened here Saturday, which drew more than 100 Confucius Institutes' directors and representatives from 10 countries and regions in East Asia and South-East Asia.

Attendees at the three-day conference will focus their discussions on the achievements, development, local teachers' training and teaching materials promotion of Confucius institutes around the world.

Wei Wei, Chinese ambassador to Singapore, delivers a speech at the 2010 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Asia held in Singapore June 26, 2010. The three-day conference drew more than 100 Confucius Institutes' directors and representatives from 10 countries and regions in East Asia and South-East Asia. [Xinhua]

Xu Lin, Director General of Chinese Language Council or Hanban and Chief Executive of Confucius Institutes Headquarters, said that Confucius Institutes in Asia have played a leading role and made a great contribution to the development of Confucius Institutes.

"The Confucius Institutes Headquarters are willing to learn from countries in Asia and hope the institutes will enjoy further development in Asia," Xu said in exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Koh Hock Kiat, Director of the Confucius Institute in Singapore, told Xinhua that the Confucius Institute can introduce to Singapore people the politics, culture and economy of Modern China and promote the friendly exchanges between the two countries.

The joint conference in Asia is not only conducive to exchanges of experience, but also helpful to spreading the principle of " harmony in difference" of the Confucius culture.

In more than 90 countries and regions in the world, there are more than 300 Confucius Institutes and over 300 Confucius classrooms, according to Xu Lin.