2022 United Nations Chinese Language Day and CMG’s 2nd Overseas Chinese Language Video Festival Held

Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at GenevaMr. Shen Haixiong, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group, and HE. Chen XuAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Swissattended the online event and delivered remarks.

Mrs. Valovaya, thanked the Permanent Mission of China to the UN as well as to China Media Group for organizing the event. Valovaya said that for more than a decade, Language Days have been celebrated at the United Nations to encourage cultural diversity and strengthen multilingualism.

She said, the UN in Geneva sees the importance of supporting multilingualism as key to advancing its Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Adding that Chinese is also one of the oldest languages ​​in the world and the heritage and wisdom it carries are an essential part of our collective humanity.

The festival opens the door to China ancient culture and “China Chic” – a modern approach to traditional Chinese heritage is an opportunity to promote Chinese cultural diversity among the younger generation and to empower those for whom Chinese is not the first language.

Mr. Shen Haixiong, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group, said in his speech that Chinese Language Day is designed to celebrate the diversity of languages ​​and cultures and promote multilateralism.

He said that as a flagship state media organization, China Media Group will continue to work to break down barriers and promote mutual understanding, create a more peaceful world and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

He believes that by bringing together thought, art and technology, the festival can better share how traditional Chinese culture has developed and continues to innovate in a new era.

HE Mr. Chen XuAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Swisssaid in his speech that without understanding the splendid Chinese culture, it is difficult to truly understand the unique spiritual world of the Chinese people and likewise, without understanding the development trend of modernity Chinait’s hard to understand China present and future.

He believes this is why “China Chic” was chosen as the theme for the United Nations Chinese Language Day celebrations this year.

He hopes that the United Nations Chinese Language Day will continue to serve as a window and a bridge, and help more foreign friends to better understand. Chinalove Chinese culture and follow China development and help promote cultural exchanges between countries and peoples.

The video festival launched on February 26collecting original video works by non-native Chinese speakers under the theme “China Chic” – and held a video contest, titled “Foreigners watch China Chic” and an award ceremony to showcase the beauty of Chinese culture .

950 video entries from 45 countries and regions were received on April 2. 14 works were selected for 9 prizes by a jury made up of people from diverse backgrounds in China and abroad. 6 young cultural ambassadors have been chosen to participate in a scholarship offered by Tsinghua University. The winners will also have the opportunity to participate in the recording of a special program at CMG Europe.

Some VIPs also participated in the video festival by choosing films that jumped out at them and making videos describing their reaction.

Zhao HoulinSecretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, said that the United Nations Chinese Language Day is a very good opportunity to promote Chinese culture and language, and expressed the hope that the festival will continue to highlight its contribution to the world.

Francesco Pisano, chairman of the UNOG Cultural Activities Committee, said that culture and art are the most important ways for friends from different countries to communicate with each other. He thanked China Media Group for organizing the event on the occasion of the United Nations Chinese Language Day.

The video festival organized activities on the themes of “culture and technology”, “tradition and trends”, “youth and interaction”.

The official theme song clip, titled “A Young Man’s Voyage”, was created by musicians from different countries to express the concept of “traditional Chinese style with a touch of modern fashion”. Overseas youth have become captivated by China cultural heritage, and are passionate about learning from artisans who are safeguarding these traditional techniques.

Cangbao, the mascot of the Chinese Language Video Festival, was created to pay tribute to At Cang Bao master Cangjie, who is a legendary figure of ancient China who is considered the original inventor of Chinese characters. The cute mascot is deeply loved by Gen Z.

The 60-minute special program of the 2022 UN Chinese Language Day and CMG’s Second Overseas Chinese Language Video Festival will air on CGTN at 10:00 p.m. beijing It’s time April 20. The special program will also be broadcast live on the social media accounts of the Chinese Language Video Festival, UNOG and the Permanent Mission of China at the United Nations at Geneva.

It will also air on Sky showcase, Propeller channel, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Thessaloniki Municipality TV Station TV100, Beta News Agency, etc.

The date of the United Nations Chinese Language Day was chosen to coincide with Guyu which is the sixth of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar. On this special day, people pay homage to Cang Jieimportant figure of antiquity China who invented Chinese characters.

In April 2021China Media Group, in collaboration with the United Nations Office at Geneva and China Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, jointly organized the 2021 United Nations Chinese Language Day and the first overseas Chinese language video festival of the CMG. It reached a total of 150 million people from 160 countries and regions.

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1800082/Chinese_Language_Day.mp4
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1800081/Chinese_Language_Day_1.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1800078/Chinese_Language_Day_2.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1800079/Chinese_Language_Day_3.jpg

SOURCE China Media Group Europe (CMG Europe)