On April 19th, the launch ceremony of the "International Chinese Language Day" and the opening ceremony of the "Chinese Bridge" Spring Camp for young students from the League of Arab States were held at Beijing Language and Culture University. More than 300 people attended the event, including diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, representatives from international language and cultural organizations, relevant government departments, universities, as well as teachers and students from the "Chinese Bridge" Spring Camp for young students from the League of Arab States.
On-site Activities (Photo provided by Beijing Language and Culture University)
Liu Limin, President of the China Education Association for International Exchange and Director of the National Committee for Guidance of Postgraduates Majoring in International Chinese Education, attended the ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Abdullah Rahman Halebi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to China, and Anoud Al Ali, a representative of the spring camp participants, delivered speeches at the ceremony. Yu Yunfeng, Director of the Center for International Language Exchange and Cooperation, and Ma Guisheng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Language and Culture University, respectively delivered welcome speeches on behalf of the organizers and the host universities of the spring camp.
Representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations World Tourism Organization, heads of international language and cultural institutions such as the British Council, heads of academic organizations such as the World Chinese Language Teaching Association and the European Association for Chinese Language Teaching, diplomats stationed in China, presidents of Chinese and foreign universities, directors of Confucius Institutes, as well as international Chinese language teachers, volunteers, and learners sent video congratulations for the event.
In his keynote speech, Liu Limin pointed out that language is a tool for communication, a carrier of culture, and a key to understanding a country. It serves as a bridge for mutual learning and understanding between civilizations. Since its inception in 2020, the "International Chinese Language Day" has been held by parties from China and abroad with the concept of joint participation, sharing, mutual learning, and mutual reference. Over 3000 activities have been cooperatively organized, reaching an audience of over 800 million people, opening a new window for people from various countries to understand China and experience Chinese culture, and building a new platform for promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing understanding between China and foreign countries.
Liu Limin stated that looking forward, China will continue to build exchange platforms, strengthen mutual learning between civilizations, and make new and greater contributions to practicing the Global Civilization Initiative, building a community with a shared future for mankind, and constructing a better world.
At the ceremony, Chinese and foreign guests witnessed the latest achievements in the construction of international Chinese education standards and digitalization. The "Chinese Proficiency Level Standards for International Chinese Education (in 11 languages)" including Korean, Japanese, English, Arabic, Thai, Spanish, etc., provide more scientific, systematic, and effective guidance to meet the localized needs of international Chinese teaching in various countries.
After the release of the achievements, Liu Limin and Yu Yunfeng awarded flags to the representatives of the spring camp participants, and together with Chinese and foreign guests, launched the "International Chinese Language Day" for the year 2024.
As a shared festival of the global Chinese education family, the "International Chinese Language Day" has been held for five consecutive years. Recently, the headquarters of UNESCO, the China Book Association of the United Nations, foreign missions, overseas Chinese education institutions, Chinese and foreign schools, and others have successively organized a variety of Chinese Language Day activities.
