Zhao Guocheng, Deputy Director- General of Hanban, or the headquarters of Confucius Institutes, said in Auckland on Tuesday that the number of Confucius Institutes are developing fast with 316 Confucius Institutes and 337 Confucius Classrooms established in 94 countries and regions worldwide.

The annual Oceania, West and South Asia Regional Meeting of Confucius Institutes opened in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland on Tuesday. Some 70 delegates gathered to explore the sustainable development of Confucius Institutes.

Auckland University's Pro Vice Chancellor Christopher Tremewan said the Auckland University Confucius Institute is the first Confucius Institute established in New Zealand. With the signing the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement and closer links between China and New Zealand, more and more New Zealanders began to learn Chinese language and Chinese culture.

Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Zhang Limin said, so far, three Confucius Institutes and six Confucius Classrooms have been established in New Zealand to meet the increasing demand of New Zealanders learning Chinese.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2010)