新年的钟声即将敲响。在这辞旧迎新的美好时刻，我们向全体远离祖国和亲人，工作在世界各地的广大汉语教师和志愿者，向各国孔子学院师生，致以节日的问候和诚挚的祝福！

The bell of the New Year is about to ring. At this wonderful moment of ringing out the Old Year and ringing in the New Year, we would like to extent New Year greetings and sincere wishes to all the Chinese teachers and volunteers working aboard far from their motherland and families throughout the world as well as teachers and students of Confucius Institutes in various countries.

2017年是孔子学院承前启后，继往开来的一年。办学规模稳步扩大，质量进一步提升，全球孔子学院大家庭成员增加到146个国家525所学院和1113个课堂。办学功能不断拓展，运行机制更加健全，为服务“一带一路”建设，增进与世界各国人民友谊，促进中外文明互鉴作出了新的贡献。

The year of 2017 has served as a link between the past and the future of the Confucius Institute and keeps carrying forward its cause and forging ahead into the future. The teaching scale of the Confucius Institute has steadily expanded and the teaching quality is further improved. As of now, altogether 525 Confucius Institutes and 1,113 Confucius Classrooms have been established, covering 146 countries in the global family of Confucius Institutes. With its extended functions and improved systems, the Confucius Institute has made new contributions to serving the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing the friendship among people around the world and facilitating mutual learning between China and the rest of the world.

“孔子学院属于中国，也属于世界”，是中外语言文化交流的窗口和桥梁。中外院长、教师、志愿者辛勤耕耘、无私奉献，为孔子学院发展作出了重要贡献，为推动中外人文交流作出了重要贡献。在此，我们谨向所有支持、参与孔子学院建设的朋友们表示衷心的感谢！

“The Confucius Institute is not only a part of China, but also a part of the world”. It serves as a window and a bridge for lingual and cultural exchanges between China and the world. By working diligently and serving quietly, Chinese and foreign directors, teachers and volunteers have greatly contributed to the development of the Confucius Institute and communications between China and the rest of the world. Here, we would like to extent our heartfelt gratitude to all the friends who have supported and took part in the construction of Confucius Institutes.

功崇惟志，业广惟勤。2018年，我们将继续秉持“创新、合作、包容、共享”的理念，不忘初心，凝聚共识，制定长远规划，完善体制机制，加强力量建设，提高质量水平，推动创新发展，实现转型升级，共同开创孔子学院事业发展的新局面，为促进多彩文明发展和增进世界各国人民友谊作出新的贡献！

Great accomplishments require ambition and tireless effort. In 2018, we will still adhere to the idea of innovation, cooperation, inclusiveness and sharing. We will remain true to our original aspiration, pool consensus, set long-term plans, perfect our systems and mechanisms, enhance strength building, improve teaching quality and level and promote innovative development, so as to realize transformation and upgrading, create a new situation of the development of the Confucius Institute and make new contributions to advancing culture diversity and enhancing the friendship among people around the world.

祝大家节日快乐，身体健康，工作顺利，阖家幸福！ 

Wish everyone a happy new year, good health, career success and a happy family！

孔子学院总部/国家汉办

Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban)

2018年元旦

2018 New Year’s Day