Recently, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (ZZULI) received a letter from Salahaddin University in Erbil, Iraq, highly commending Hu Zhiwei, an international Chinese language teacher dispatched by ZZULI, for his outstanding contributions over six years of teaching in Iraq. Salahaddin Universityexpressed deep appreciation for his significant role in promoting China-Iraq cultural exchange and strengthening collaboration between the two institutions.

In 2019, Mr. Hu Zhiwei was selected for the Chinese government’s overseas Chinese language teaching program and went to Salahaddin University in Iraq to teach Chinese and promote cultural exchange. During his tenure, he took the lead in establishing the first Chinese language department in Iraq, laying a solid foundation for local Chinese education, and pioneered innovative teaching methods, mentoring three local students who were later awarded China’s “Young Cultural Ambassadors” title. More than just a Chinese language instructor renowned for his rigorous teaching and patient guidance, he also served as a cultural ambassador between China and Iraq, introducing traditional Chinese practices such as Tai Chi Chuan to local communities. His outstanding work earned repeated recognition from Salahaddin University’s Faculty of Languages and widespread acclaim from students, faculty, and the broader Kurdish region.

Under the active promotion of Mr. Hu Zhiwei, ZZULI has established a strong partnership with Salahaddin University, and both of them have successfully carried out two rounds of faculty and student exchanges. Participants from Salahaddin University deepened their understanding of Chinese higher education and campus culture through immersive summer programs at our university, laying a solid foundation for deeper academic collaboration and broader bilateral exchanges. Meanwhile, thanks to Mr. Hu’s proactive efforts, ZZULI has also reached a preliminary agreement with Iraq’s Cihan University to jointly establish a Confucius Institute.

For a long time, ZZULI has attached great importance to international exchange and collaboration, actively sending Chinese language teachers and volunteers abroad, and organizing Chinese culture experience camps for international students, making its due contribution to promoting mutual learning between Chinese and foreign cultures and building platforms for international educational collaboration. Moving forward, ZZULI will continue to deliver high-quality international education services to empower more faculty and students to connect with the world and contribute fresh momentum to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.