On April 20 every year the UN celebrates Chinese Language Day with an emphasis on cultural diversity and multilingualism.
At least 100 million people are learning Mandarin Chinese worldwide, while more than 70 nations have officially incorporated Chinese language teaching into their national education systems and more than 4,000 universities are now offering ‘zhong wen’ courses worldwide.
The Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, is no different.
It’s one of the country’s top universities and students say they are drawn to the cultural aspect and the beauty of the characters.
“I love studying Chinese – I think it’s beautiful”
“Since I was a kid I loved the culture and the language,” UCM student Miriam, who is studying Chinese and German, told CGTN. “It’s kind of fun and entertaining to know the characters and I think it’s beautiful.”
Another UCM student learning Chinese is Steffi. “I love studying Chinese, I love the culture, the music, I’ve watched so many movies, so many dramas that I just fell in love with the country and its people, they are also very nice and the food is delicious,” she beamed.
A language like Chinese can also be a way to differentiate yourself in the market, bearing in mind China’s growing economic importance.
“I believe learning Chinese is very advantageous because its industries are growing very fast and it will be very important in general to learn from other cultures and to try and empathize with other people,” Steffi added.
“A tremendous rise”
Consuelo Marco Martinez is the Director of Oriental Studies at UCM and speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently, having spent years studying and working in China.
Since returning to Spain she’s helped build a network of Chinese language classes and courses across the country.
“Years ago I began teaching Chinese and I would have seven or eight students in my class, now in first year Chinese courses we have over 320 people studying the language here, a tremendous rise,” said Martinez.
Spanish students at UCM learning Chinese. /CGTN
Spanish students at UCM learning Chinese. /CGTN
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Almost one in four people speak either Spanish or Chinese
CGTN arrived at UCM on a ‘Day of Chinese Culture,’ one of the many events across the country celebrating 50 years of official diplomatic relations between Spain and China.
Featuring a calligraphy demonstration, Tai Chi, and Chinese traditional music, the wider Madrid Chinese community proudly put on a show.
Over 1.8 billion people on the planet speak either Spanish or Chinese, almost one in four people in the world.
But the number of students exchanged between the two countries is relatively small.
After Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s recent visit to China, that looks set to change.
“Future diplomats and ambassadors”
Han Yahui, Director of Consular Affairs at Chinese Embassy, Madrid, was also present at the celebration in UCM.
“Exchange programs help young people understand each other better,” Han told CGTN.
“Recently Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited China, and the governments from both nations agreed on greater student exchanges.”
“Today they are students, but in the future they will be diplomats and ambassadors of their countries.”
Consuelo Martinez points to a new ‘Global Erasmus’ program that is set to increase exchanges between non-EU students in Spain.
In efforts to help these important student programs Pedro Sanchez also promised better and quicker access to visas for Chinese tourists and students.
“Chinese Wisdom for a Green World”
Greater interchanges, language and cultural understanding, are all positive trends moving forward, and as one of the United Nations’ six official languages, this year’s Chinese Language Day theme has taken on a wider significance too.
Named ‘Chinese Wisdom for a Green World,’ the UN is shining a light on solutions for green and sustainable development for the future.
“2023 is a critical year for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” reads the UN official website.
“We are unfortunately far off track for many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out, it is high time to turn words into action and redouble our efforts to regain the lost ground for sustainable development.
“In this context, this year’s Chinese Language Day will be held under the theme of “Chinese Wisdom for a Green World” to provide Chinese wisdom and solutions for green and sustainable development, thus echoing the Water Conference, the SDG Summit, and other important SDG-related meetings held or to be held by the UN this year.”
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