China urges US to abandon prejudice against Confucius Institutes

China has never interfered with academic freedom of Confucius Institutes (CI) in the US, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday, urging relevant sides to "abandon prejudice".

All class and cultural activities of CI in the US are open and transparent, Hua said at a routine press briefing.

The institutes aim to help foreigners learn the Chinese language, understand Chinese culture, enhance educational and cultural exchanges and promote international friendship, and CI is a bridge of friendship connecting the world with China, Hua said.

"Confucius Institutes belong to China and the world as well," Hua said, quoting President Xi Jinping's words in September. Hua called on relevant sides to "abandon prejudice" against CI so as to work together to strengthen ties.

The first CI was established in Seoul in 2004. As of October, CI had 471 institutes and another 730 Confucius Classrooms in 125 countries or regions worldwide, including about 100 institutes and 356 classrooms in the United States.

A US congressional hearing warned Thursday that China's government is gaining a foothold on American campuses by funding dozens of institutes, compromising the academic integrity of US universities.