Fifty-six diplomats from 26 foreign embassies to China have registered to attend a ten-week-long Chinese language learning program hosted by Hanban, or the Confucius Institute Headquarters.

Fifty-six diplomats from 26 foreign embassies to China have registered to attend a ten-week-long Chinese language learning program hosted by Hanban, or the Confucius Institute Headquarters. In the picture diplomats greet each other in Chinese in class.

The program, the second of its kind, begins on Sept. 18. Diplomats will take primary or secondary level courses. The primary course focuses on basic dialogues in Chinese, while the secondary-level course focuses on how to describe daily affairs and express personal feelings in more sophisticated Chinese.

Apart from Chinese language learning, diplomats will also have classes in Chinese culture, including Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting.

Xu Lin, director-general of Hanban said her organization will provide online classes to help foreign diplomats better learn Chinese.

"We have also selected more than 50 volunteers among university students to be one-on-one tutors for the diplomats," she added.

Hanban held the first Chinese language learning program for foreign diplomats in July. It will last 17 weeks and is attended by 31 foreign diplomats from 16 countries.

Marija Adanja, ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to China said the program is a good opportunity to better understand Chinese culture, as Hanban provides high-quality courses.

Marija Adania, Slovenian Ambassador to China, speaks on behalf of the diplomats from 26 foreign embassies taking part in the Chinese learning program hosted by Hanban.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2010)