Wang Shangxue, the former Chinese director of the Thailand Maritime Silk Road Confucius Institute, which is run by Tianjin Normal University, said that in-depth Chinese learning associated with occupational skills, such as high-speed rail, electronic machinery and e-commerce, are becoming more popular around the world.

"AI-driven Chinese teaching methods and a growing number of livestreaming courses have become new driving forces, while the more diverse training institutions including universities and companies are taking part in the international Chinese teaching sector," she said.

In addition, during the event, the center announced that its Chinese learning platform has provided online training to 20 million users from around 200 countries and regions, as well as services for 5,000 organizations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the outbreak, the platform has offered 340 courses and more than 16,000 classes.

The center has provided combined scholarships for as many as 23,000 students, ranging from undergraduates to doctoral students. It has also offered training to some 20,000 international Chinese teachers and organizers.