The Confucius Research Institute at the University of Goettingen, jointly run by the University of Gottingen, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Nanjing University, was established. Up to now, 9 Confucius institutes supported by NJU have been set up, including those at Sheffield University, Melbourne University, University of Waterloo, Emery University, Artois University, the Catholic University of Chile, Freiburg University, George Washington University, and Goettingen University. These Confucius Institutes have played an important role in promoting the teaching of Chinese language and culture and in improving the educational and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.