Opening Ceremony of 2024 International Chinese Language Day Photo: Courtesy of Center for Language Education and Cooperation

Featuring countries like Kenya and Nepal, a number of varied cultural events were recently held all around the globe to celebrate the 2024 UN Chinese Language Day. 

Initiated by the UN in 2010, Chinese Language Day falls on April 20. It aims to celebrate Chinese, one of the six official languages of the UN, as well as to promote global multiculturalism by creating a bridge between Chinese culture and the rest of the world. 

Cultural policy expert Song Weiping told the Global Times that the Chinese language, known as Putonghua, is one of the most spoken languages in the world. The goal of the day is to "expand the international communication value of the language."  

"It is not limited to the exact day of April 20. The event is celebrated around the world throughout the whole of April," Song told the Global Times. 

During the lead up to April 20, cultural events on "Chinese language and mutual learning" were held this year in countries in South Asia, Europe and Africa. UNESCO, a special agency of UN, also launched a five-day exhibition at its Paris headquarters on April 15 to showcase how Chinese calligraphy, ink painting and folk mythology are featured in children's picture books. 

Yang Xinyu, a representative of China to UNESCO, said that children's picture books are a special "approach" that showcases the charm of the Chinese language and the culture of China. Yang also emphasized that this medium can connect people, especially children all around the world, inspired them to learn about the country and its language.  

While the UNESCO show opened in Paris, musical events featuring Chinese folk songs such as "Hundreds of Birds Worshiping the Phoenix" were held at the UN Office in Nairobi (UNON), Kenya. 

Zainab Hawa Bangura, director-general of UNON, said at the local Chinese Language Day celebration that these events can help "deepen the world's understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture."  

Liao Xufeng, a linguistic analyst, told the Global Times that when it comes to Chinese characters' designs, the Chinese language carries a lot of "cultural connotations revealing Chinese people's cultural philosophy, folk customs and also their worldviews." 

"Learning the language can help one to understand what the world is to the Chinese people," Liao said. He also emphasized that other than African countries, nearby Asian countries like South Korea, Thailand and Nepal are also full of Chinese language learners. 

During an event for the day in Kathmandu, Nepal, Chairman of the Nepal Language Commission Gopal Thakur said that the Chinese language is now one of the languages of employment in the country, and the goal of promoting Chinese is "strongly supported" by the local government. 

To support the further spread of Chinese in Latvia, the "Panda Chinese" textbook was also recently launched in the East European country. "Panda Chinese" is the first textbook for locals to be written in Chinese, Latvian, Russian and English. 

Other than overseas celebrations, the 2024 UN Chinese Language Day was also celebrated at Beijing Language and Culture University in Beijing. The event welcomed over 300 overseas students from countries like Japan, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. 

Liu Limin, president of the China Education Association for International Exchange, attended the event. He told the Global Times that since 2020 there have been more than "3,000 events" held all around the globe to promote the Chinese language. 

"Language is a communication tool and a carrier of culture, but it is also the key to understanding a country, and a bridge for mutual learning between civilizations," Liu told the Global Times.