Vice Minister
Xu Lin tours State Capitol, university facilities
MURFREESBORO —
MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and Vice Minister Xu Lin of China shared their
cultures, ideas and a few gifts Monday during a visit by Xu to the State
Capitol and to the Confucius Institute on the Middle Tennessee State University
campus.
Xu (pronounced SHOO) and four associates flew into Nashville
early Monday following a weekend meeting at Western Kentucky University in
Bowling Green, Ky., attended by Confucius Institute leaders from across the
United States. Xu oversees the 400-plus Confucius Institutes located in 117
countries around the world.
The delegation finished its trip with a visit to MTSU’s
Confucius Institute inside Peck Hall, where they were greeted by a group of
Chinese students as well as Rutherford County students and parents who have
participated in recent cultural exchanges.
During the State Capitol visit, which was facilitated by state
Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, Xu and McPhee met with Gov. Bill Haslam, state
Rep. Jim Coley, R-Bartlett, and Ketron to discuss the importance of cultural
exchanges between the U.S. and China in areas such as education and business.
Haslam said he’s visited China in the past, though not as
governor, but hopes to do so in the future. He asked Xu what she hopes to
accomplish through the institutes. Xu said her goal is to strengthen China’s
support for Confucius Institutes, which are also present at the University of
Memphis and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
“Actually my goal is your goal,” Xu said. “We want to become
a great window for the two countries. … The Chinese government wants to pay
more attention and (give) more support to the Confucius Institute.”
Xu, who also serves as director-general of the Office of
Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), oversees a worldwide network
of institutes that offers Chinese language and teaching resources and services,
provides cultural outreach and fosters educational partnerships. The institutes
are affiliated with China’s Ministry of Education.
In touting the positive impact of the cultural exchange, McPhee
cited the exclusive research partnership between the Tennessee Center for
Botanical Medicine Research, based at MTSU, and the Guangxi Botanical Garden of
Medicinal Plants in China to accelerate the development of Western medicines
from plant extracts. McPhee noted that about 15 samples of medicinal plants are
showing promise in treating certain cancers.
MTSU opened its Confucius Institute in April 2010 through a
partnership with Hangzhou Normal University. The University of Memphis opened
the first institute in the state in 2007, while UT-Knoxville’s opened earlier
this year, with each also partnering with a Chinese university.
“It’s very competitive to get a Confucius Institute,” said
McPhee, who serves as a senior adviser to the Hanban/Confucius Institute
Headquarters in Beijing. “Our goal is to get even more American students to
study in China.”
Under McPhee’s leadership, MTSU has strengthened its
international outreach to China as well as several other countries. Earlier
this year, McPhee led a delegation to China, which included a visit to
Confucius Institute Headquarters, and facilitated a cultural and educational
agreement between the Murfreesboro City Schools, Rutherford County Schools and
a China education group.
Xu was given a brief history of Tennessee as she toured the State
Capitol and was surprised to learn that President Andrew Jackson, who is a
topic of Chinese world history courses, was from Tennessee. She was also
impressed with the state’s rich music history, including country music.
Tour stops also included the State House and State Senate
chambers where Ketron and legislative assistant Ryan Adcock answered Xu’s
questions about the legislative process and how it compared to the process
within the Chinese government.
Before departing Nashville, Xu presented Haslam with a book
on Chinese history and culture while Haslam presented her with a leather-bound
tablet emblazoned with the state of Tennessee seal and a state lapel pin.
“We’re very honored to have you here,” Haslam said.
Once in Murfreesboro, McPhee and Xu exchanged gifts at a
luncheon at the President’s Residence attended by university leaders including
Provost Brad Bartel, MTSU Confucius Institute Director Guanping Zheng,
Associate Director Paul Cui and Dr. David Schmidt, MTSU vice provost for
international affairs.
“Our home is your home,” McPhee told Xu and her delegation,
referring to Xu as “my very, very good friend” and “my oldest sister.”
Ketron, who traveled with the MTSU delegation to China
earlier this year, is pleased that the relationship with China continues to
broaden.
“We’re pleased to have the Confucius Institute at MTSU,” he
said, “and we’ll continue to build these bridges of friendship.”
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