The driving force in China for the development of the network of Confucius Institutes is The Office of Chinese Language Council International, known as Hanban.

Hanban supports each Institute in delivery of its objectives through the provision of both financial and physical resources such as library materials and language learning assets.

Hanban also arranges secondments for Chinese language teachers to Confucius Institutes around the world. The seconded staff at the Nottingham Confucius Institute are from one of the most prestigious universities in China - Fudan University.