On April 29, 2006, President Hu Jintao, who was on a state visit to Kenya, met teachers and students of the Confucius Institute in Nairobi in the hotel where he stayed.

The meeting hall was overflowed with a joyous atmosphere and the banner that says, "President Hu, the Confucius Institute Welcomes You" was hung on the wall. 27 teachers and students wearing formal dresses and suits arrived at the meeting hall early, waiting for the arrival of President Hu. Around 09:20 local time when President Hu stepped into the meeting hall, the teachers and students waved the national flags of China and Kenya and called out "welcome, welcome, a warm welcome". President Hu shook hands with all of them.

Ru Si, a student from the Confucius Institute delivered a speech on behalf of the Confucius Institute. She welcomed President Hu to Kenya and thanked President Hu for receiving the teachers and students of the Confucius Institute in Nairobi in fluent Chinese. She said, "We are the first group of students in the Confucius Institute in Nairobi. We like learning Chinese very much. We love the Chinese culture. China is a great country with a centuries-old history and brilliant cultures. Our Chinese teachers are warm-hearted. We've learned a lot here. We are looking forward to contributing to the friendly cooperation between China and Kenya."

Following the address of Ru Si, the students, holding high the banner that says, "Learn Chinese Well and Build a Bridge of Friendship between China and Kenya", started to sing the Jasmine Flower (a traditional Chinese folk song) for President Hu, who also joined the chorus. President Hu praised them, saying that they sang it very well with an original Chinese taste. Then President Hu had relaxing and pleasant talks with students, asking them about their study of the Chinese language. President Hu encouraged them to study hard to make contribution to the cultural exchanges between China and Kenya.

President Hu said to the teachers and students, "I'm very pleased to meet you, teachers and students from the Confucius Institute in Nairobi. I feel close to my hometown when I listen to you speak Chinese and sing Chinese songs. The Confucius Institute in Nairobi is the first Chinese-teaching institute in Africa that is named after Confucius, a thinker and educator in ancient China. The establishment of the Institute is a reflection of the consolidation of cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Kenya. It will help the Kenyan people, especially the youth, know more about China and the Chinese civilization and help the two peoples increase mutual understanding and deepen friendship."

President Hu expressed the hope that the students of the Confucius Institute will study hard and never be contented with the study so as to know more of the Chinese culture and that the teachers of the Confucius Institute will teach the students earnestly and never be impatience with the teaching. I'm convinced that the young friends in Kenya including you will certainly thrive and become the pillars of the society through your hard work and remitting efforts and make your contribution to the China-Kenya friendship. President Hu presented New-Century Chinese-English Dictionary and realia to the Institute. A Kenyan student presented a picture album with the signatures of all the teachers and students to President Hu in the name of the Confucius Institute. Following the exchange of gifts, President Hu took group photos with the teachers and students, who were reluctant to bid farewell to President Hu.

The Confucius institutes are established by related Chinese agencies to meet the needs of a growing number of foreigners wishing to learn Chinese. The Confucius Institute in Nairobi was established in December 2005, being the first Confucius institute in Africa. There are 29 teachers and students in the Institute, among whom there are 25 students, 3 Chinese teachers (including the dean on the Chinese side) and one dean on the Kenyan side.

On the same morning, President Hu also met the staffs of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and the representatives of Chinese-funded agencies and overseas Chinese.