Bryant plans week-long celebration for grand opening of Confucius Institute

Highlighting the week-long celebration is Zhuang Zedong, the Michael Jordan of table tennis, who will speak on Sept.14 about his "Ping Pong diplomacy."

Zhuang Zedong, the world table tennis champion who in 1971 launched what came to be known as Ping Pong diplomacy, will speak about the pivotal role he played in the process on Friday, Sept. 14, as part of Bryant University’s grand opening of its Confucius Institute.

The Confucius Institute at Bryant University is one of 20 currently in the United States. Named for the Chinese philosopher whose once-banned teachings are enjoying renewed popularity throughout China, the institutes are being established around the world by China’s Ministry of Education to promote understanding of the Chinese language and culture. Bryant University President Ronald K. Machtley signed an agreement with Director General Madam Xu Lin of China’s Ministry of Education last November to establish a Confucius Institute at Bryant under the umbrella of the university’s U.S.-China Institute.

Zhuang’s talk, presented in Chinese with English translation, begins at 7 p.m.in Janikies Theatre. He will discuss how his simple act of friendship – presenting a silk item to an American table tennis player in an era when both countries looked upon each other with suspicion – paved the way for President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972 and, in Zhuang’s opinion, to an environment in which China could host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Afterward, Zhuang, the three-time world champion known as the Michael Jordan of table tennis, will participate in a Ping Pong demonstration along with Richard Bowling, among the top-ranked table tennis players in the United States.

Schedule of Events

The grand opening festivities begin on Sunday, Sept. 9, and continue through Friday, Sept. 14. The following events are free and open to the public:

Sunday, September 9

6-8 p.m. – Golden Jasmine Chinese Film Festival featuring Tales of Rain and Magic and Chinese Dumplings. Janikies Theatre

Monday, September 10

6-8 p.m. – Golden Jasmine Chinese Film Festival featuring The Orchard. Janikies Theatre. Preceded by "China Explorers" photo exhibit in Rotunda.

Wednesday, September 12

4-6 p.m. – Silk Road Jeopardy is a friendly competition among the Rhode Island high school students who studied Chinese at the Confucius Institute's STARTALK program this summer and then traveled along portions of China’s ancient Silk Road for two weeks with Institute instructors. Stepan Grand Hall, Bello Center

6-8 p.m. – Golden Jasmine Chinese Film Festival featuring Across the Plateau. Janikies Theatre

Friday, September 14

4-5:30 p.m. – The formal Opening Ceremonies for the Confucius Institute will include a lion dance; the unveiling of a statue of Confucius, along with plaques and scrolls; and tours of the Confucius Institute offices. Officials from China’s Ministry of Education and Shandong Province, the ancestral home of Confucius, will join President Ronald K. Machtley and Hong Yang, executive director of the U.S.-China Institute, for the festivities. Ceremonies begin in Unistructure Rotunda and move to the John H. Chafee Center for International Business

7-7:20 p.m. – Presentation of honorary professorship to Zhuang Zedong. Janikies Theatre

7:20-8 p.m. – Lecture by Zhuang Zedong and eight-minute clip of Voice of, a documentary about Ping Pong diplomacy. Janikies Theatre

8-9 p.m. – Ping Pong demonstration with Mr. Zhuang and others. Janikies Theatre

For more information about the Confucius Institute at Bryant and the celebration of events, dates, and times, visit The U.S.- China Institute, or call 401-232-6883.