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A delegation led by Armenian Minister of Education and Science Levon Mktrchyan paid an official visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC) earlier this week. Rector of Armenian State Pedagogical University Ruben Mirzakhanyan was among the Armenian delegates.
In Beijing, the Armenian delegation headed by Levon Mkrtchyan met with Chinese Minister of Education Chen Baosheng. During the meeting, the sides discussed avenues for deepening bilateral cooperation and expansion of bilateral ties in the fields of education and science.
The Chinese official reaffirmed their agreement and readiness to grant Armenian language the status of permanent discipline at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
Chen Baosheng also welcomed the agreement reached between BFSU and ASPU on implementing joint projects and granting two diplomas to the students of the two universities in question.
The sides also agreed to arrange a visit of delegates from BFSU and Confucius Institute Headquarters to Armenia in spring to discuss and sign the corresponding agreements.
The two ministers later discussed the prospects of activity of a Chinese school which is being constructed in Armenia, highlighted its importance in the region as well as the necessity of providing a system of training.
Levon Mkrtchyan thanked the Chinese side for the support to the construction of the Chinese school in Armenia, stressing that the project was made possible after a corresponding agreement was reached during a meeting of the presidents of Armenia and China. The two ministers also discussed expansion of cooperation and strengthening of ties between the two countries.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Armenian delegates also met with the leadership of Beijing Normal University and Acting Director of Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters). Levon Mktrchyan thanked the latter for the assistance that the Chinese side provides to the branch of the Confucius Institute in Yerevan, stressing that it is a good bridge between China and Armenia in cultural and educational spheres.
In this context, the minister noted that after the opening of the Chinese school in Yerevan they would pay special attention to its essential role in recruiting and training local educators.
An agreement was reached to develop a definite work programme to support the activity of the Chinese school in Yerevan. The interlocutors discussed the modernization of method of granting scholarships to Armenia by the network of the Confucius Institutes and stressed the importance of replenishing the teaching staff with required specialists.
The Acting Director of the Confucius Institute Headquarters praised the activity of their Armenian branch. Speaking about the centuries-old relations between the two universities, the Chinese representative stressed that the two peoples were able to maintain and protect their civilization and identity over centuries.
