BFSU holds several celebrations on Apr 20 to mark the 2023 International Chinese Language Day. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) held several celebrations with 23 Confucius Institutes and Classrooms in 18 countries on Apr 20 to mark the 2023 International Chinese Language Day.

Themed with “Cultural Connections: Embracing Diversity through Chinese Language”, the events were aimed at strengthening language and cultural cooperation between China and other countries, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among diverse civilizations.

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2023 BFSU International Chinese Language Day Celebrations. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Addressing the opening ceremony, Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, introduced the schedule of the celebrations and invited global Chinese learners and fans to gather at BFSU to learn Chinese and reach a better understanding of ancient and modern China and how the Chinese people view the world.

BFSU holds the second “Music to Our Ears” International Online Concert on Apr 20. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Following the opening ceremony was the second “Music to Our Ears” International Online Concert.

Кристина Богданова, a student from the Confucius Institute at Moscow State Linguistic University, performs “Ode to Pear Blossoms”. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Кристина Богданова, a student from the Confucius Institute at Moscow State Linguistic University, performed the Peking Opera “Ode to Pear Blossoms” and shared her understandings of the song via live broadcast.

Christian Rockenbach from the Confucius Institute Munich sings "Three Wishes of the Rose" with Austrian professional opera singer Elisabeth Sergeeva. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Christian Rockenbach from the Confucius Institute Munich, sang the song "Three Wishes of the Rose" with Austrian professional opera singer Elisabeth Sergeeva in a cross time and space chorus.

Deans, teachers and students from 14 Confucius Institutes and Classrooms sang the song "Tomorrow Will Be Better" in chorus, expressing the vision of peoples from all countries hoping for a better future.

Performances at the concert provided the audience with a diverse cultural fusion and a unique audio-visual feast.

A series of short documentaries were released after the concert, recalling the warmth of China during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and commemorating the days when BFSU volunteers provided help to friends from around the world using multiple languages.

The 2023 BFSU International Chinese Language Day Celebrations were guided by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under the Ministry of Education and hosted by the BFSU Office of Confucius Institutes. More than 600 teachers and students from 23 Confucius Institutes and Classrooms in 18 countries, as well as global Chinese learners and lovers participated in the celebration activities.