On April 18, over 700 guests gathered at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) to celebrate the 2025 International Chinese Language Day. 

Foreign diplomats from more than 20 countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, Malawi and Niger, representatives from international organizations including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the ASEAN-China Centre, delegates from international language and cultural institutions like the Beijing French Alliance, officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, as well as scholars and overseas students in China attended the event.

Representatives open a ceremonial gift box to launch the 2025 International Chinese Language Day. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Themed “Chinese Language: A Gift across Time and Space”, this year’s event was initiated by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation in collaboration with ChinesePlus.

During the celebration event, Chinese and foreign guests delivered speeches highlighting the significance and practices of Chinese language, as a timeless gift, in inheriting Chinese culture, promoting mutual learning among civilizations and advancing shared growth. Irina Bokova, former director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and other celebrities also sent their greetings via video, extending best wishes.

A creative short film celebrating the International Chinese Language Day was also screened, presenting heartwarming stories of learners and educators worldwide who have embraced Chinese learning in their lives.

The 2025 International Chinese Language Day celebration features two lectures. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

A series of special activities were featured as highlights of the day. In a lecture on film art and cultural diversity, acclaimed Chinese director Xie Fei shared his experience using classic Chinese films to introduce Chinese language, culture and art to international audiences. While sci-fi writer Chen Qiufan engaged participants in a thought-provoking talk on Chinese creative writing in the age of AI, in which he discussed the impact of AI on language education, and explored how human-machine collaboration is driving the innovative integration of science, literature and art.

Two thematic exhibitions and a cultural bazaar are held as part of the 2025 International Chinese Language Day celebration. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Two exhibitions added a cultural and artistic dimension to the event. The “China in Focus: Motifs and Colors — The Beauty of Chinese Arts & Crafts” sci-tech and culture exhibition presented China’s long-standing history, unique craftsmanship and Chinese people’s enduring pursuit of goodness and beauty. The “Spring Mountains in View” calligraphy exhibition featured 60 works by renowned Chinese calligraphers. These pieces themed around Sino-foreign cultural exchange and cooperation, mutual learning among civilizations and friendship among peoples. 

The youth cultural bazaar offered interactive activities such as poetry challenges, idiom games and traditional costume showcases. These immersive experiences allowed global participants to explore the charm of Chinese language in exciting manners. 

Originating from the United Nations Chinese Language Day, the International Chinese Language Day is a language and cultural exchange initiative proposed by China and embraced by the international community. Now in its fifth year, the celebration has grown significantly, with over 5,000 events held by more than 1,000 educational and cultural institutions in over 160 countries, reaching an audience of more than 300 million both online and offline. 

In recent days, UNESCO, the African Union headquarters, Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, Confucius Institutes and other overseas Chinese language education institutions, as well as both Chinese and foreign schools have also hosted a variety of vibrant celebration activities, showcasing the beauty and depth of the Chinese language and culture to learners and enthusiasts around the world.