Around 200 Egyptian students graduated from the Confucius Institute in Cairo University Thursday, which also marks the 3rd anniversary of the establishment of the institute in Cairo University.

"The Confucius Institute has contributed a lot to the promotion of the Chinese language in Egypt since it established three years ago, training many students to be messengers of bridging between China and Egypt," said Huo Wenjie, the educational attache from the embassy of the People's Republic of China.

"The Confucius Institute in Cairo University helps the Egyptian people a lot to learn Chinese and to know more about Chinese culture," said Chinese Dean of Cairo University Confucius Institute Li Shengjun.

He said the Confucius Institute in Cairo University, which has trained more than 600 students since its establishment, offers various kinds of Chinese courses. Besides oral Chinese courses, it also provides language training specially for businessmen, tourists and senior employees.

Akram Kandel, 36, owner of an import and export company, received the certificate Thursday for taking the 3-month junior Chinese course. "I really like China and I'm much interested in Chinese culture. I would like to take all the Chinese courses. If possible, I would like to do business in China," he said.

Students of the Confucius Institute in Cairo University are open to the opportunities to attend summer camps in China, and the top three of each class will be offered a scholarship to study in China.

Currently, there are two Confucius institutes -- one is in Cairo University, the other is in Suez Canal University -- for teaching Chinese language and culture in Egypt and several hundred Egyptians have received Chinese language education in the institutes.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2011)