UN celebrates Chinese language in New York

The United Nations this week launched its 16th Chinese Language Day series — "Poetic China: Rhymes and Romance" — at UN headquarters, offering an immersive cultural experience that blends Chinese tea culture, calligraphy and poetry.

Curated to draw wisdom and inspiration from China's classical heritage, the two-week celebration seeks to rally cultural strength and a shared vision amid global challenges and change.

To celebrate the opening on Tuesday, the UN Staff Recreation Council Chinese Book Club hosted an evening reception that drew diplomats, UN staff and international guests.

Keynote speakers included Cherith Norman Chalet, assistant secretary-general for General Assembly and Conference Management; Chen Li, consul general of China in New York; Zu E, a nationally recognized, intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor; and Ning Hongliang, deputy curator of the National Museum of Chinese Writing.

Chalet described Chinese Language Day as a vivid expression of the UN's commitment to multilingualism and thanked the organization's Chinese-language professionals, whose expertise keeps the UN's work moving forward "in six languages, advancing peace and understanding".

Chen described Chinese as a "golden key" for mutual learning among civilizations, a "new driver" for innovation and a "bridge of hearts" connecting people. Noting that more countries are listing Chinese among their critical languages, he urged learners to master it, share the Confucian wisdom of "harmony without uniformity", and help create a future of "shared beauty".

Ning introduced Between the Lines - The Civilization Codes in Chinese, an exhibition curated by the National Museum of Chinese Writing. Centered on the story of an ancient warrior living during the Shang Dynasty in the 14th century BC, the exhibition illustrates how Chinese characters encode the ideal of "harmony among all nations".

Representing the featured artists in the exhibition, Zu noted that the landscapes, flora, fauna and figures portrayed convey both a yearning for harmonious lives and a sincere wish for world peace and human well-being.

The reception, hosted by Chinese Book Club President Yuxi Zhang and Vice-President Tinghua Zhou, also featured a tea ceremony by Lanfei Tea, a live calligraphy demonstration by master calligrapher Xia Pengcheng, and the unveiling of three bilingual books to enrich cross-cultural dialogue: Classic Poetry and the 24 Solar Terms by Professor Yao Xishuang, Belt and Road in the Eyes of Ambassadors by Sun Chao, and From China With Love: 20 Ancient Chinese Poems in English Translation edited by Ji Chen.

This two-week series of Chinese Language Day events featured lectures and immersive cultural experiences. On Thursday, linguist Yao will guide audiences through classical poems tied to the 24 solar terms, while tea craftsman Yang Juncheng will explain the cultural depth of Chinese tea.

On April 24, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine will host an open day showcasing traditional Chinese medicine through talks, exhibitions and interactive sessions.

By weaving together exhibitions, lectures, music, poetry and interactive encounters, the series highlights both the historical depth and contemporary vitality of Chinese culture. It also underscores the importance of Chinese as one of the UN's six official languages, adding a rich humanistic dimension to the organization's 80th anniversary commemorations.

xi.yu@chinadailyusa.com