New Year’s Reception 2012 of Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen
2nd February, 2012
With a New Year’s Reception on 2nd February, the Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen thanked its friends and patrons. In the festive ballroom of the German Railways Museum in Nuremberg representatives of culture, politics and economics of the metropolitan area of Nuremberg gathered together. Among them were Dr. Klemens Gsell, mayor of Nuremberg, Dr. Elisabeth Preuss, mayor of neighboring city Erlangen, Dr. Peter Schoenlein, former mayor of Nuremberg and executive vice-chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees, Mrs. Russalka Nikolov, Director of German Railways Museum Nuremberg, Dr. Matthias Everding, CEO of Savings Bank Nuremberg, Prof. Dr. Dr. Godehard Ruppert, President of Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg and Dr. Matthias Henkel, Director of Museums in Nuremberg.
Dr. Schönlein, Dr. Grüske and Consul General Wang in vivid conversation before the concert
The powerful musical opening of the Fangyin Ensemble of Nuremberg’s Partner city Shenzhen
Dr. Yan Xu-Lackner, German director of the Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen, greeted the over 200 guests in her welcoming speech and thanked all friends, sponsors and patrons for their continuous support. Without this, the Institute as network for the advancement of the Chinese language and culture would not have been able to establish such a prestigious reputation and firm base in the metropolitan area of Nuremberg. In the year of the dragon, as in the years before, the Institute thrives on responsibility, and, for a bright future, wants to be challenged.
Dr. Xu-Lackner, German Director of the Confucius Institute Nuremberg
Mr. Wang Shunqing, consul general of the People’s Republic of China’s consulate in Munich, found that the success story of the Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen, which is one of a kind in the state of Bavaria, was a perfect example of promoting intercultural spirit. He thanked the people working in and together with the Institute, building bridges between Nuremberg and its partner city Shenzhen, between Germany and China.
Consul General Wang
Prof. Dr. Grueske, President of Erlangen University and chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees
Dr. Gsell, mayor of Nuremberg
Dr. Schoenlein, former mayor of Nuremberg and executive vice-chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees
Prof. Dr. Karl-Dieter Grueske, president of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees, stressed in his speech that the Institute sees itself as an interface between the sciences and public life. It openes scientific findings through the lecture series “Religions in China” to a broad public, it enables students of FAU study trips to China with its funding and organization, and it arranges Chinese classes at local schools, just to name a few examples.
Dr. Klemens Gsell, mayor of Erlangen, elucidated the complex partnership with Shenzhen: Many differences, not only in language, combined with ignorance of other cultures can easily lead to misunderstandings. However, mutual acquaintance leads to a better understanding of each other. In this delicate matter, the Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen showed extraordinary dedication with official visits of city representatives and exchanges of journalists and students among many other programs, and thus contributed to international understanding in Nuremberg metropolitan area.
Dr. Peter Schoenlein, former mayor of Nuremberg and executive vice-chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees, stressed that the importance of the Institute has been acknowledged of all the political parties in the city council, a consensus that does not occur very often. He continued that Europeans, despite of the successful inter-European cooperation, should not indulge in idle self-frugality but broaden their horizon to China. The Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen offers chances of intercultural encounters and discussion, which in today’s world is the only possibility of sustainably solving global problems and strengthen the bonds between peoples.
The audience in the ballroom of German Railways Museum
From right: Prof. Dr. Dr. Ruppert, President of Bamberg University, Prof. Dr. Lackner, Chair of China Studies of Erlangen University, Dr. Xu-Lackner, German Director of the Confucius Institute Nuremberg, Dr. Preuss, mayor of Erlangen, Consul General Wang, Prof. Dr. Grueske, President of Erlangen University and chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees, Herr Dr. Gsell, mayor of Nuremberg, Consul Dai, Dr. Schoenlein, ormer mayor of Nuremberg and executive vice-chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees
The Fangyin Ensemble that played after the speeches is a good example for this: Twin sisters, one living in Nuremberg, the other in Nuremberg’s sister city Shenzhen, organized the show and thus built an intercontinental bridge. With sounds of guzheng, the Chinese zither, they and their collegues enchanted the audience: Popular pieces like “Spring Moon over Jiangnan” as well as own creations welcomed the Year of the Dragon.
Also the physical well-being was cared for and the sound of lively discussion filled the room, with new ideas being born in an atmosphere of friendship. The festivities lasted until late in the evening – a sign that everyone not only enjoyed themselves but that many new ideas of cooperation had been born.
