Economic reform in the People’s Republic of China [PRC] since 1980 has seen the emergence of new categories of wealth and power.

The Inaugural International Conference of UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland, entitled? "Rising China in the Age of Globalisation", which took place from August 16 to August 18 2007, examined the latest economic, cultural, social and political developments in China.

On Tuesday June 12th, The Confucius Institute of Ireland treated a privileged audience to a highly engaging and informative presentation by Profs. John G. Blair & Jerusha McCormack, on the cultural and ideological differences and similarities between Chinese and Western thinking.

The UCD Confucius Institute successfully hosted a reception to celebrate the launch of their new Evening courses and to also welcome their new students participating in these courses.

A great Beijing Opera performance by China’s Beijing Opera Company, hosted by UCD Confucius Institute, was held on 7 March.

This year, as many Irish people are now aware, February 18th marked the beginning of the Chinese Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year. In the festival days when meeting Chinese friends, the Irish would say to their Chinese friends “Hey, the Chinese New Year, brilliant!” A lot of stores in the city centre put products for the Chinese Spring Festival on sale and offered festival discounts. The Chinese New Year certainly marked its arrival in Ireland!

A delegation from UCD headed by Dr Philip Nolan, Deputy President, visited Renmin University of China (RUC) on 23rd January 2007. The delegation’s main purpose was twofold: to participate in the first Executive Board Meeting of UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland and to attend the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Agreement on Academic Co-operation between UCD and RUC.