LJWorld.com

During a visit to Kansas City, China's ambassador to the U.S., Zhou Wenzhong, took a side trip Wednesday to Kansas University's new Confucius Institute.

"I think this is really very good for better relations, for better understanding between peoples," Zhou said of the new center, aimed at teaching Americans about China. "We will do whatever we can to help them."

Zhou toured KU's Edwards Campus, home to the new institute, and posed for photographs. His visit comes amid lingering tensions over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Zhou said there needs to be a firm stance with North Korea, but there also must be room for diplomacy.

"We think this issue should be resolved through peaceful negotiations and peaceful talks," he said. "That is in the interest of all parties."

The Confucius Institute opened earlier this year. It offers classes on Chinese language and culture to high schools, businesses and the public.

Bill Tsutsui, KU history professor and institute director, said KU was honored to have a visit from the ambassador.

Photo by Richard Gwin

The Chinese ambassador to the U.S., Zhou Wenzhong, visits Kansas University's Confucius Institute Wednesday at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park.

"It really is a sign of how important this institute is to the Chinese government," he said.

The institute has enrolled 100 students in its public Chinese language courses.

It has formed a partnership with the engineering firm Black & Veatch, to offer a 10-week language and culture course to the company's employees.

"I think it's going to be a good model, and we're going to try to market it more broadly to corporations," Tsutsui said.

But as the institute begins its work, there is work today. The institute reviewed current public school Chinese language programs in the state and found only two in the state: in Shawnee Mission and Olathe.

Tsutsui said the institute hopes to help expand Chinese language offerings in the state by working to bring teachers from China as well as train potential teachers already within the United States. The institute currently teaches 41 high school students through an interactive distance learning class based at KU.

And in another move to boost exposure to China's language and culture, the institute will present basketball game analysis in Chinese that will be available on the Web sites for the Institute and KU Athletics during the season. The analysis will also be featured in audio and television broadcasts of a KU basketball game, though the specific game has not been determined, Tsutsui said.