Confucius Institute opens in Houston (2)

TSU students also hailed the opening of the Confucius Institute. "The students at Texas Southern University are very excited about the experience we are going to be able to have with the Confucius Institute," said Brandon Andrews, president of the student association.

"We've seen that China is a world leader," Andrews said, stressing the importance of understanding the country's culture and language.

Andrews said he will take Confucius Institute courses and "learn as much as possible."

Cao Guoyong, chairman of the university council of Beijing Jiaotong University, promised joint efforts with TSU to build the new Confucius Institute into a center for language learning and culture research.

The Chinese consul general in Houston, Xu Erwen, said she believes the institute "will not only offer Chinese language courses to those who are interested in learning Chinese, but also serve as a platform for American people to better know and understand China."

"In doing so, it will surely play a significant role in enhancing friendship between the two peoples," she said.

The initial idea of the TSU Confucius Institute was conceived in 2010. In 2012, TSU signed an agreement in Beijing with the Chinese government on establishing a Confucius Institute at the university.

China opened the first non-profit Confucius Institute in 2004 to promote its language and culture abroad, as well as to promote cultural exchanges.

The number of Confucius Institutes has increased rapidly across the world. Statistics show that Hanban has so far opened 420 Confucius Institutes in 111 countries.

In the United State alone, there are 92 Confucius Institutes. The one at TSU is one of the several new institutes recently launched in the country.