Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley makes a speech during the opening ceremony of the second National Chinese Language Conference in Chicago, April 30, 2009. More than 800 educators from throughout the United States converged on Chicago Thursday to take part in the second National Chinese Language Conference under the theme of "Making Connections and Building Partnerships." (Xinhua/Hu Guangyao) Photo Gallery>>>

   CHICAGO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- More than 800 educators from throughout the United States converged on Chicago Thursday to take part in the second National Chinese Language Conference under the theme of "Making Connections and Building Partnerships."

   During the three-day event, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in some 60 workshops and seminars where they can learn about such subjects as "strengthening Chinese language learning through educational exchange" and "developing students' global competence and building partnerships."

   The conference is sponsored by the College Board and Asia Society, and hosted by the Chicago Public Schools. Chicago is leading the country in Chinese language teaching, with some 12,000 students enrolled in programs in 43 schools.

   Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, opened the evening with a call for increased interaction between American and Chinese students and educators.

A dealer introduces a Chinese language textbook to a visitor during a book fair on the sidelines of the second National Chinese Language Conference in Chicago, April 30, 2009. (Xinhua/Hu Guangyao) Photo Gallery>>>

   "We need more than an Internet connection," he said. "We need to make a real human connection. China has emerged as a political leader on the world stage, and there is a growing urgency for more Chinese programs in American schools. An appreciation of the need to understand the Chinese language and culture is expanding quickly across the great United States."

   Chinese Consul General to Chicago Huang Ping said that the work done at the conference could make a cake of the language and culture that would give everyone a bigger share.

   He said that of the top 20 Confucius Institutes in the world, which are non-commercial institutions for teaching the Chinese language and promoting Chinese culture abroad, four were in the United States -- three of them were in the U.S. Midwest and the number one institute was the Confucius Institute in Chicago.

  Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who was an early advocate of teaching the Chinese language and culture in the city's public schools, said at the opening ceremony that education comes first, and Chicago is dedicated to the world's languages and cultures.