"Ni hao" is becoming increasingly loud in Indonesia

2026-06-10

At 7 pm, a Chinese classroom in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province in Indonesia, was packed with people. Several high school students were excitedly discussing the recently popular Chinese TV dramas, occasionally jumping out a few Chinese sentences; The young white-collar worker who just arrived from work lowered his head to practice Chinese character strokes; A few elderly Chinese students in the back row greeted each other in slightly awkward Mandarin... With the sound of "class", the lively classroom quickly quieted down, and dozens of pairs of eyes looked at the blackboard together, following the teacher to read Chinese words over and over again.

This is a daily scene of the Chinese training class at the Confucius Institute of Hassan Nuddin University. Since 2023, the Chinese training classes at the institute have increased from two classes to eight classes, with almost all classes being fully staffed, and registration often ends early. Five years ago, there were only three students majoring in Chinese at the school, but now there are 287 students on campus, and the employment rate of graduates continues to increase, with broad employment prospects. According to data from Hankou International, the number of Indonesian candidates taking the Chinese Proficiency Test in 2025 will exceed 30000, ranking fifth in the world. The number of Confucius Institutes, Confucius Classrooms, and various social Chinese language training institutions is increasing year by year.

I have been working and living in Indonesia for many years, and I deeply feel that for many young Indonesians, Chinese is no longer just a foreign language, but a bridge connecting the wider world. Many young people either hope to study abroad in China, or believe that mastering Chinese is more advantageous for job hunting, or believe that Chinese can bring them new possibilities for development. Adi Maulana, Vice President of Hassan Nuddin University, said that learning Chinese is no longer just a hobby, but also brings rare opportunities for development. In recent years, cooperation between China and Indonesia has continued to deepen in various fields, from industrial parks on Sulawesi Island to street shops in Jakarta, from the booming cross-border e-commerce to the steady development of logistics, culture, and tourism industries. A large number of Chinese funded enterprises have landed and operated, making "knowing Chinese" an important sub item in the local job market. Many young Indonesians admit that mastering Chinese can lead to higher income and broader career prospects. Chinese has become a practical skill, and a strong Chinese learning atmosphere has formed among the local youth group. Nowadays, there are more and more Chinese learners in Indonesia, from classrooms and workplaces to service windows and public institutions. Chinese is no longer just a foreign language, but gradually integrated into the local education system and social operation, becoming an important link between China and Indonesia.

With more and more Chinese movies landing in Indonesian cinemas, Chinese milk tea shops and trendy toy stores are becoming increasingly popular in the local area. In the eyes of the younger generation in Indonesia, China is no longer distant and vague, but a vivid and concrete daily life. More and more young Indonesians are actively learning about and approaching China, discussing Chinese movies, TV dramas, short dramas, and popular songs, and curiously exploring China's high-speed rail, urban development, and youth life. Last year, Jakarta's first Hanfu photo studio opened, and many young Indonesians made special appointments to take ancient style photos and share their Hanfu experience on social media. For them, learning Chinese is a way to touch new life scenarios, and language is the most direct bridge to perceive these changes.

The 'Chinese fever' in Indonesia reflects the increasingly close relationship between China and Indonesia, which has nurtured beautiful fruits in the folk soil. The slightly awkward "hello" sounds in the classrooms of the country, although seemingly simple and small, are like the footsteps of the two peoples approaching each other, and will eventually converge into a friendly and melodious sound that crosses mountains and seas. (Outlook new era)

Edit:Li zhiwei Responsible editor:Lin Qi

Source:people.cn

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