"China is growing very fast, it's now a driving force in the world, both economically and politically," he said. "The Kenyan government has launched a look-east policy, and is benefiting from that."

Since many Chinese are doing business here in Kenya and goods from China are increasingly popular, Lukaka has seen great opportunity from the close ties between the two countries. In order to take advantage of that opportunity, "you have to first learn the language."

Including Lukaka, 18 students are graduating from the Confucius Institute as the first class who started their courses late last year.

Having learned the language for barely nine months, they can already speak simple Chinese and even sing songs in Chinese. But for them, this is far from satisfaction.

"I hope I can have a chance to get a master degree in China, majoring in international relations," said Lukaka.

Lucy Mugo, a linguistics student who has also completed her study at the institute, said she is very interested in learning Chinese language and wants to further her study in China, "just like Ruth."

Once a classmate at the institute, Ruth Njeri, who gave an outstanding performance at the Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, was awarded a scholarship for studying Chinese language at the Tianjin Normal University in China for five years. She has studied there for three months.

China and Africa in recent years are enjoying a closer tie, in areas including trade, economy and culture. With a view to further promoting cultural exchanges between China and the African countries, the educational departments of China and Kenya reached an agreement in June 2004 to establish a Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi.

Since its official launch in December, 2005, the Confucius Institute has been doing very well, said Isaac Mbeche, principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the university.

"The collaboration between Kenya and China is growing well and fast, especially in tourism and trade sectors," said Mbeche Wednesday at the institute's completion certificate award ceremony," to benefit from this, we are happy to have such kind of institute, which can serve as the base for better understanding between the two countries."

More To Be Able To Learn Chinese

Due to limited resources and lack of teachers, the university has to restrict the number of students who can take the Chinese course, said the principal who is also the dean of the Confucius Institute. Apart from the first 18 graduates, there are over 30 students studying at the institute.

He promised that the university, together with its Chinese partner, would try every effort to get more teachers and teaching equipment, so that more Kenyans can have a chance to learn the Chinese language and culture.

Deputy Dean of the institute Song Lixian, who came from the Tianjin Normal University in China, said that besides teaching Chinese here at the institute, she is also trying to get more scholarships for Kenyan students to study in China.

The Confucius Institute program was designed by China National office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOCFL) to promote Chinese teaching in the world and provide excellent teachers and learning materials for overseas Chinese learners.

According to the NOCFL's program, the number of Confucius Institutes around the world will reach 100 in the near future. In Africa there are currently three Confucius Institutes respectively in Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

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