Serial cultural activities sponsored by the Confucius Institute at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill (CI at UWI Cave Hill) to mark the arrival of the Monkey New Year attracted extensive media attention at home and abroad. Those colorful activities were fully covered by well-known news agencies, such as China Central Television (CCTV), the People’s Daily, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Nations, Advocate, etc.
On Feb.12, 2016 (local time), Zhao Yijun, a reporter of CCTV Latin America central overseas bureau, and his colleagues visited the CI at UWI Cave Hill to interview the Institute’s Chinese and Barbadian Co-Directors, as well as its former Interim Director. Three Directors introduced the current situation of the Institute and its future blueprint.They were unanimous in their opinion that the rapid dissemination of Chinese language and its culture in Barbados cannot be achieved without the increase of China's comprehensive national strength as well as the improvement of cultural communications between the two countries.
On Feb.13 (local time), the lively opening ceremony of the second “Fish and Dragon Festival” and Chinese Spring Festival celebration were held in Barbados’ capital Bridgetown.The CI at UWI Cave Hill especially arranged Chinese language training courses and Chinese Culture Exhibition for local visitors. A group of news organizations headed by the CBC fully reported the event and interviewed the staff of the CI at UWI Cave Hill on the spot. By opening its door to local mainstream media, the Confucius Institute not only successfully popularized Chinese language courses and cultural activities among the locals, but also aroused Barbadians’ keen interest in China itself.
