Foundation eyes 1,000 Confucius schools in China in 2016

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong (C, front) poses for a group photo with advanced individuals and units at the opening ceremony of the 10th Confucius Institute Conference in Shanghai, East China, Dec 6, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China Confucius Foundation (CFC) will add 700 more Confucius schools this year, bringing the total number of such institutions in China to 1,000.

The foundation, based in Confucius' birthplace in East China's Shandong province, launched the first Confucius school in Shandong's provincial capital Jinan in 2014. The school seeks to promote Confucius ideals such as benevolence, integrity and perseverance.

CFC's secretary-general Wang Daqian said they will open applications to the general public to help construct the 700 new schools.

The CFC has previously opened such schools for migrant workers and drug addicts going through rehabilitation.

The Chinese revere Confucius and have followed his teachings for centuries. He is respected as "the teacher of all teachers," and children learn to recite his wisdom at a very young age.