A combination of online and offline instruction will optimize the teaching of Chinese language and culture, along with the development of Confucius Institutes globally, said experts at the 10th Confucius Institute Conference in Shanghai on Sunday.

According to the conference, the geographic distribution of Confucius Institutes is multilayered, diversified and widespread. This year, 25 Confucius Institutes and 149 Confucius Classrooms for primary and secondary school students were set up, bringing the total to 500 and 1,000 respectively. These institutes and classrooms are located in 134 countries and have over 1.9 million registered students.

A breakthrough has been made with the development of online Chinese language instruction, triggering advances in teaching methodology.