The board meeting of Confucius Institute for Business at Matej Bel University (CIB at MBU) was held successfully online on 28 April, 2021. Slovak Chair, Mr. Rector Vladimír Hiadlovský of Matej Bel University, Chinese Chair, Mr. President LV Wei of Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, and the board members, Mr. Vice-president FANG Hongxing, Mr. Antonín Ovšák, Mr. Dean ZHAN Jian, Madam Andrea Danková, Madam Slovak Director Gabriela Nafoussi, and Mr. Chinese Director WANG Jianwei, attended the meeting.

The board affirmed the progress and the achievements of CIB at MBU against the pandemic situation, reviewed and approved the annual and financial report of 2020 and the work plan and budget for 2021.  With discussion, the board reaches broad consensus to meet the needs of CIB development on a wide range of issues, including CIB teaching branches, online “Chinese + business” programs, Chinese language teachers from both China and Slovakia, Chinese volunteers of MTCSOL graduate students, and the “1+2” joint program when conditions permit.

The board believes that, in the context of COVID-19, the network platforms can be made to their full use so as to expand Chinese language education programs and the teaching outlets. The board also believes that CIB at MBU will have a sustainable development with the sound support from both sides of China and Slovakia, and can be a platform for our two universities to carry out cooperation in multiple fields and do our contribution towards educational, cultural, economic and trade exchanges between China and Slovakia.

The board members expressed good wishes and expects to meet physically as soon as possible by the end of the pandemic.