On November 7th, Liu Hong, deputy to the National People's Congress, a leading talent of the National "10,000 Thousand Program" and President of the China International Foundation for Chinese Language Education, gave a lecture entitled "How to Play the Main Role of Chinese Confucius Institutes" for the 2023 (the second half of the year) pre-service training for Chinese Confucius Institute directors. 49 prospective Chinese presidents listened to the special lecture.

President Liu Hong introduced the construction and development experience of ten overseas Confucius Institutes in four continents to the prospective Chinese Dean, analyzed the changes in the role of Chinese universities in the new era with the change in the operation and management mode of Confucius Institutes, and stressed the importance of Chinese institutions playing the role of the main body of Confucius Institutes after the transfer. Moreover, it clearly puts forward ten key links that Chinese universities must grasp to play the main role, namely, concept, top-level design, mechanism and system, subject guarantee, teaching staff, teaching management, financial management, grade standards, quality assessment and external relations.

Finally, President Liu Hong put forward the ardent hope for the proposed dean. Chinese deans in the new era should perform their duties on behalf of Chinese institutions, establish awareness of the construction of Confucius Institute standards, establish and improve various systems and rules, establish a united and efficient teaching and research team, and become a bridge for cooperation between Chinese and foreign institutions in various fields, constantly expand the influence of opening up to the outside world, constantly promote cultural self-confidence and self-improvement, and make positive contributions to enhancing China's international communication force and influence.

The whole lecture was rich in content and detailed in cases. It introduced the ways and approaches of Chinese universities and Chinese deans to run Confucius Institutes well in the new era from both theoretical and practical aspects. It played an important guiding role for Chinese deans who are planning to take overseas Confucius Institutes.

In the exchange session, the directors had an in-depth exchange with President Liu Hong on how to train the localized teachers of the Confucius Institute and the management of the Confucius Institute after taking office.