Nearly 100 students from four secondary schools in the United Kingdom gather in London on April 25 to celebrate the 15th United Nations Chinese Language Day. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Immersing themselves in the rich tapestry of Chinese culture, nearly 100 students from four secondary schools in the United Kingdom converged in London on Thursday to mark the 15th United Nations Chinese Language Day, experimenting with movable-type printing, exploring Chinese character history, and engaging in Chinese fan dance.
The UN Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20 to pay tribute to Cangjie, who claimed to be the inventor of Chinese characters.
The UN established language days for Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity, as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the organization.
The London event, organized by the Chinese Bridge Club in the UK and the Chinese Proficiency Test UK Committee, and directed by the Education Section of China’s Embassy in the UK, offered six on-site workshops and a digital tour of Sanxingdui, an archaeological site in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, demonstrating the high level of civilization in Sichuan some 3,000 years ago.
Minister of China's Embassy in the UK Zhao Fei addresses the attendees at an event in celebration of Chinese Language Day of this year in London on April 25. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Addressing the event, Zhao Fei, minister of China's Embassy in the UK, said Chinese language education has currently been carried out in more than 180 countries and regions, with 82 countries incorporating Chinese into their national educational curriculum. He added that the number of foreign people learning and using Chinese has now exceeded 200 million.
Zhao also revealed that 1,500 UK students who are learning Chinese will visit China this year with the joint support of the Chinese and British sides.
"I hope that you will keep up your interest in learning Chinese and, during the process, gain a deeper understanding of China and become envoys of and contributors to the friendship and cooperation between China and the UK," Zhao said.
Students make pop-up cards of the Sanxingdui Altar at an event in celebration of this year's UN Chinese Language Day in London on April 25. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Devina Mistry, a British student from Queen Mary's High School, said learning Mandarin has been much more than just acquiring a new way to communicate.
"It has been a gateway to understanding a rich culture and an opportunity to connect with people," she said. "Embarking on this journey was initially daunting due to the complexity of the characters and the tonal nature of the language. However, each new word I learn and each phrase I master fuels my passion to visit China."
She added: "Mandarin is not just a language of business to diplomacy. It is the language of the ancient poets and philosophers, whose wisdom is still relevant in today's global society.
"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn this beautiful language and for the doors it has and will open in the future."
Students try out color painting on plates at an event in celebration of this year's UN Chinese Language Day in London on April 25. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Students learn the Chinese fan dance at an event in celebration of this year’s UN Chinese Language Day in London on April 25. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Students learn Chinese kung fu at an event in celebration of this year's UN Chinese Language Day in London on April 25. [Photo provided to China Daily]
