The World Language Museum at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and the university’s School of Arabic Studies celebrated United Nations (UN) Arabic Language Day on Dec 17 to promote language teaching and enhance cultural ties. UN Arabic Language Day is set on Dec 18 every year to commemorate the day in 1973 when the UN General Assembly approved Arabic as an official UN language.

BFSU celebrates UN Arabic Language Day in an online and offline form on Dec 17. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China, delivered a speech via video link in which he noted that as one of the most widely used languages in the world with more than 400 million speakers Arabic plays an important role in enriching language forms, disseminating knowledge and maintaining cultural diversity.

Dhaheri said the UAE and BFSU have enjoyed a profound friendship for more than 30 years. The School of Arabic Studies and the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Centre for Arabic Language and Islamic Studies at the university have promoted Arabic language teaching and research in China, trained thousands of excellent graduates and contributed to amicable relations between China and Arab countries.

The embassy will further deepen cooperation with BFSU and advance the strategic partnership between the two countries to higher levels, said the ambassador.

Chinese and Arab Studies, a widely-acclaimed Arabic Journal on Chinese and Arab literature, culture and ideology, is recommended on Dec 17. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Professor Liu Xinlu, dean of the School of Arabic Studies, gave a special lecture themed on China’s soft power in the Arab world, and recommended a widely-acclaimed Arabic Journal published by BFSU, Chinese and Arab Studies, which focuses on cutting-edge issues concerning Chinese and Arab literature, culture and ideology and bolsters academic dialogue between China and Arab countries.

Representatives from the School of Arabic Studies play Arabic musical instruments and display Arabic calligraphy works on Dec 17. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Following the lecture, representatives from the school played Arabic musical instruments, gave bilingual poetry recitals, explained the history and characteristics of Arabic calligraphy and donated exquisite works to the World Language Museum.

Xinhua News Agency reported on and livestreamed BFSU’s celebrations on UN Arabic Language Day and promoted an Arabic micro-video titled “Based on Language and Beyond Language” produced by the School of Arabic Studies at the university.