Sinologist serves as language envoy at Confucius Institute in Ulan Bator

By Qiu Bo in Ulan Bator (China Daily)

Updated: 2014-08-22

When Mongolian Sinologist Chimedtseye Menerel embarked on his Chinese-language journey at Beijing Language and Culture University, he never anticipated that thousands of students would be learning from him in Ulan Bator 28 years later.

"Mandarin has become the second most popular language after English in Mongolia. Many Mongolian youths are interested in it," said the 58-year-old, who is now director of the Confucius Institute at National University of Mongolia.

His job is to guarantee the smooth operation of the institution's Chinese education work and to promote Chinese culture in his motherland.

"Since our country has attracted an increasing number of Chinese enterprises and business organizations, more and more young people have come to realize that mastering the Chinese language can easily get them a decent job nowadays," he said.

"More than 200 students came over to register and enrolled in our linguistic course each semester," he said, smiling. What especially delights him is that he has students of all ages - from 6-year-olds to senior citizens.

"Some of them only learn Chinese for fun or to develop their self-cultivation," he said.

Statistics of Mongolia's education authority have suggested that last year, more than 13,000 Mongolians were learning Chinese. The country has a population of 3 million.

More than 60 colleges and universities offer courses based on the Chinese language, the education authority's data show.

As the only Confucius Institute in Mongolia, the school has instructed more than 2,100 undergraduate Chinese-language students since the school was launched in 2007, said Zhu Junli, the headmaster.

In order to learn about the state of affairs of Chinese-language education, as well as to propose an approach to promoting Chinese language education and training local Chinese teachers, Chimedtseye, the institute's director, visited at least two dozen prestigious universities in Mongolia in the early stages of the institution.

He has successfully translated ancient Chinese works such as The Analects of Confucius, The Great Learning and The Art of War.

These works have had far-reaching influence in both countries.

Recalling his first visit 28 years ago, Chimedtseye said, "Mongolian people knew nothing about China's fast economic development." Every time he went to China, he brought back Chinese products "such as Chinese spirits and cloth shoes", he said.

"At that time, I already realized that a developing China meant a favorable and rare opportunity for Mongolia."

Mongolian tourists make more than 1 million visits to China each year, said Yang Qingdong, counselor at the Chinese embassy in Mongolia.

"All society in Mongolia holds high expectations for President Xi Jinping's visit this time," said Chimedtseye.

"I hope this trip could introduce more Chinese culture to Mongolia and enhance the bilateral relationship between the two peoples."

He added, "I hope the visit will attract more Mongolians to learn the Chinese language."

qiubo@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/22/2014 page2)