Four decades on, growing with China

Professor Richard Trappl is the director of the Confucius Institute at Vienna University, which was established six years ago. Born in Austria but fascinated with China, since first footstep set on China 40 years ago, Professor Trappl has connected his life, career and dream tightly with this land with long history and dramatic changes.

People’s Daily Online is honored to have Professor Trappl in the studio to share with us his amazing experience related with China and introduce the development of the Confucius Institute, a shining brand to spread the influence of Chinese culture.

Trappl started to study Chinese in Vienna University’s Sinology institute, which was set up in 1973. Then he got scholarship and continued the study in Beijing from 1974 to 1975.

Initiated by him, Vienna University set up the Confucius Institute in 2006 and Professor Trappl took the post of director since then. Although very young, the institute has more than 800 students.

A major difference from Sinology institute at university is that the Confucius Institute is open to the general public with students from small children to grown-ups, and even some “special” guests, for instance, the Austrian Ambassador to China, who had studied Chinese in the institute for some weeks. The institute also offered course in Chinese language to Austrian Defense Academy. The students are also from other embassies and international organizations, said Professor Trappl.