A Local Perspective: Confucius Institutes in Chile

China’s position as Chile’s primary trading partner has prompted extensive analysis of the economic and diplomatic dimensions of Sino-Chilean relations. However, it is equally important to examine the spaces where cultural and interpersonal exchange takes place, particularly within institutions such as the Confucius Institutes. This study focuses on the Confucius Institutes in Chile and explores their role as bi-regional organizations within the broader framework of Sino-Chilean relations. While much attention has been given to trade and diplomacy, this analysis seeks to understand how these Institutes facilitate cultural and interpersonal exchange between the two countries. The research is based on 19 semi-structured qualitative interviews, complemented by participant and non-participant observation of various activities organized by Chilean Confucius Institutes. This methodological approach allows for an examination of both the educational and cultural dimensions of these institutions. The study contributes to existing scholarship by adopting an anthropological perspective that highlights the bi-regional character of the Institutes and the challenges they encounter within a dual governance structure. It also underscores the importance of understanding how Confucius Institutes are perceived and received across diverse political and cultural contexts. In the Chilean case, Confucius Institutes generate not only linguistic and cultural impact, reflected in the growing number of students interested in learning Mandarin, but also serve as spaces of intercultural mediation. Their capacity to adapt to local contexts is central to their role as facilitators of cultural exchange and to the development of intercultural perspectives.