On the occasion of the 17. 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 Shines Through Civilizations,“ the event was organized by the Permanent Mission of China to the UN in cooperation with China Media Group (CMG).
Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Fu Cong He stressed that 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of China's restoration of its rightful seat at the United Nations. „As one of the six official languages, the Chinese language has faithfully recorded the development of the United Nations and the history of cooperation between China and this organization, and conveys to the world the ideals and steps of multilateralism,“ Fu said.
He also recalled that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Translation Service within the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Management. „Over eight decades, generations of Chinese language experts have made significant contributions through the spoken and written word to fulfilling the UN mission and promoting multilateral dialogue.“
Fu highlighted the growing global interest in Chinese language and culture. He noted that in recent years, the popularity of Chinese language study, cultural experiences and travel to China has been growing, with the Chinese language serving as a bridge to a deeper understanding of Chinese civilization.
„The UN attaches great importance to multilingualism and promotes respect for the diversity of civilizations,“ Fu said, adding that this celebration is a concrete example of the Global Initiative of Civilizations, promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations and building a world in which different civilizations can thrive together.
President of CMG Shen Haixiong said in a video presentation that the Chinese language is now part of national education systems in more than 90 countries and that trends such as „Becoming Chinese“, „China Maxxing“ and „China Travel With Chinese Films“ are gaining global popularity.
According to him, these trends reflect the international community's desire for civilisational dialogue and shared understanding. The Chinese language, he said, has long since transcended language alone and has become a poetic link that connects people and brings the world closer together.
He stressed that the celebration aims to share knowledge and wisdom for global cooperation and mutual understanding, and CMG will continue to use its global communication network to present a true, multi-dimensional and comprehensive picture of China in the new era.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming emphasized that language is the carrier of civilization. Chinese has more than a billion users and carries millennia of wisdom, philosophy and art.
Movses Abelian, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Management, said the Chinese language was a key part of the multilingual UN system, which carried nuances of meaning, depth and cultural continuity. Language, he said, is not just a set of sounds and words, but also a memory, a culture and a unique way of perceiving the world.
Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, recalled that language is at the very heart of the UN's work, as it can bring people together, deepen understanding and promote effective multilateral cooperation.
He highlighted the growing participation in Chinese language teaching programmes at the UN and expressed his gratitude to Chinese institutions, universities and partners for their long-term support. He said the Chinese language continued to bring new energy to intercultural dialogue and international cooperation.
The event also included the screening of a short film by CMG, created using artificial intelligence, which focused on Chinese characters and showed their aesthetic and cultural value.
Participants learned about the use and promotion of the Chinese language at the UN and discussed its role in developing intercultural exchange and understanding. The program was complemented by a string quartet performance celebrating the vitality of spring and a Chinese song performed by an American singer.
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