On the lunar Chinese New Year’s Eve, Confucius Institute, jointly established by Zhejiang Gongshang University and University College West Flanders, held the Third Spring Festival Gala in Bruges. Ma Kai, from Department of Education of Chinese Embassy in Belgium, Lode, President of HOWEST, Frederic, Vice President of HOWEST, Isabelle, the Director of International Office, Kristin, Commissioner of Chinese Affair in the provincial government of West Flanders, and Pol Van Den Driessche, member of House of Representative attended the gala. Hundreds of local people also attended that evening.

Since the establishment of Confucius Institute in 2012, Spring Festival Gala is held every year to show students’ talents and inspire their interests in Chinese culture. In addition to Spring Festival Gala, Confucius Institute also hold various intercultural activities to provide a chance of understanding and experiencing Chinese culture for students and local citizens. Such as “The Sea Silk Road—From South China to Bruges” seminar, Photographic Exhibition of China hosted by Confucius Institute and City Academy of Fine Arts, Chinese Day and Chinese traditional calligraphy exhibition. Confucius Institute also provides demonstration class of Chinese traditional calligraphy, which is hosted by Deans from both colleges. On the New Year’s Eve, the experience activity of Chinese dishes held for the international program students received warm welcome. About 150 students joined, among which over 30 students will be engaged in a three-week visit to ZJSU this April.