UN Chinese Language Day celebration event held in New York

To mark the 17th United Nations (UN) Chinese Language Day, a themed cultural event was held at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.

Under the theme "Chinese Language Shining Civilizations," the event was held by the Permanent Mission of China to the UN in partnership with China Media Group (CMG).

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, highlighted that 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of China's restoration of its lawful seat at the UN. "As one of the six official languages, Chinese has faithfully documented the development of the UN and the history of cooperation between China and this organization, conveying to the world the ideals and actions of multilateralism," said Fu.

He noted that this year also marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Translation Service of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. "Over the past eight decades, generations of Chinese language professionals, through words, written and spoken, have made indelible contributions to serving the mission of the UN and promoting multilateral dialogue."

Fu emphasized the growing global interest in Chinese language and culture, noting trends like the rising popularity of Chinese studies, cultural experiences and travel to China have gained momentum in recent years, while the Chinese language serves as a bridge guiding people into the depths of the Chinese civilization.

"The UN attaches great importance to multilingualism and advocates respect for the diversity of civilizations," said Fu, adding that the celebration is a vivid testimony of putting the Global Civilization Initiative into practice, promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and building a world where different civilizations flourish together.

CMG President Shen Haixiong said in a video speech that the Chinese language has now been included in national education systems in over 90 countries, with "Becoming Chinese," "China Maxxing" and "China Travel With Chinese Films" becoming global trends.

Shen described the trends as a reflection of the international community's desire for civilizational dialogue and emotional resonance, saying the Chinese language has long gone beyond a language itself but become a poetic link that connects hearts and bridges the world.

He said the celebration aims to share insights and wisdom for global cooperation and mutual understanding, and CMG will leverage its global communication network to present a true, multi-dimensional and comprehensive picture of China in the new era.

Melissa Fleming, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, underscored that language is a carrier of civilization. The Chinese language has more than a billion users and embodies millennia of wisdom, philosophy and art.

Movses Abelian, under-secretary-general for general assembly and conference management, highlighted that the Chinese language is a key component of the UN's multilingual system, which carries nuance, depth and cultural continuity. He emphasized that language is not only sound, words and structures, but also memory, culture and a unique way of observing the world.

Atul Khare, under-secretary-general for operational support, noted that language lies at a core position of UN work, which can bring people closer, enhance understanding and promote effective multilateral action.

He highlighted the rising participation in UN Chinese language training programs and expressed gratitude to Chinese institutions, universities and partners for their long-term supporting, saying the Chinese language is continuously injecting vitality into the UN's intercultural dialogue and international cooperation.

The event featured a screening of a CMG AI short film exploring Chinese characters, showcasing the aesthetic and cultural richness of Chinese characters.

Attendees learned about the use and promotion of the Chinese language at the UN and discussed the language's role in fostering intercultural exchanges and understanding. They also enjoyed a performance of the string quartet piece celebrating the vitality of spring, followed by a Chinese song by an American singer.