China Confucius Institutes to be increased to 500 by year end

China's Confucius Institute, which focuses on teaching Chinese language and culture abroad has opened more than 490 branches across the world and plans to increase the number to 500 by the end of this year.
Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters Xu Lin said each of these institutes should be tailored to local conditions, which is crucial to their sustainable development.
By the end of this year all foreign directors of the Institute will have attended training courses in China, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
He was speaking at an ongoing seminar held in Shanghai in which 36 foreign directors from 21 countries attended it.

The nine-day event, including discussions and field trips, focuses on Chinese folklore, diplomacy, economy and traditional Chinese medicine.
Deriving its name from the renowned educator and philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC), Confucius Institutes under China's Ministry of Education aim to promote Chinese language and culture abroad.
The first was set up in Seoul, South Korea, in 2004.