On April 20, 2023, Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and Confucius Institute at the University of Sierra Leone (USL)together held the celebration of International Chinese Language Day. Ambassador Wang Qing attended the event together with the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, representatives from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, and the USL, as well as Chinese Community in Sierra Leone, Chinese language enthusiasts, teachers and students of the USL. The event was reported by SLBC, AYV, Standard Times, Calabash Newspaper and other mainstream media in Sierra Leone.
In his statement, Ambassador Wang said that language is the bridge of communication as well as the carrier of culture and information. As one of the world’s oldest languages, Chinese has been associated with a vibrant Chinese civilization.Learning Chinese can help us to better understand the Chinese culture and the development and bright future of China in the new era. Last month, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), advocating the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.China is ready to work with the international community to promote exchange and mutual understanding in the process of language learning so that human civilization can be put forward. Ambassador Wang thanked Sierra Leone government as well as the universities and colleges for their active support for international Chinese language education in Sierra Leone and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He hoped that through this event, more Sierra Leonean students and people would be attracted to Chinese language learning, further enriching China-Sierra Leone relations and moving forward hand in hand on the path of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute presented the past and the next steps in promoting Chinese language teaching in Sierra Leone. The representatives of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and the USL delivered statements to congratulate the International Chinese Language Day,whichwill bringmore opportunity for Sierra Leone people and students to learn Chinese language and culture. They assured Sierra Leonewill continuously strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in the fields of culture and education, and promote the sustainable development of the bilateral relations.
The event had Chinese Cultural Experience Activities such as calligraphy, opera, Taiji martial arts, traditionalclothing and musical instruments. The atmosphere was very enthusiastic and the participants said that the International Chinese Language Day helps them to understand more about China, appreciate the charm of Chinese culture and deepen their longing for the Eastern ancient civilization.
