On September 27th, the Chinese International Education Foundation hosted a series of events in Beijing to celebrate Confucius Institute Day under the theme of "Chinese, from History to Future." During the event, 75 directors of Confucius Institutes, who had served for over ten years, received "Medal for Long Service as a Confucius Institute Director", including six Chinese and foreign directors of Confucius Institutes co-built by Xiamen University.

They are Robert Kotze, incumbent Foreign Director of Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University, South Africa;

Ji Nengwen, incumbent Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at the University of Malta and former Director of Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria;

Huang Jianjun, former Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand and Confucius Institute at the University of Delaware;

Wang Ying, former Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at the University of Malta, Confucius Institute at Newcastle University, UK and Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University, South Africa;

and Pan Wei, incumbent Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Newcastle University, UK and former Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Saint Mary's University, Canada.