Chinese Language Day celebrated in Ethiopia to strengthen cultural exchanges
ADDIS ABABA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Chinese Language Day was celebrated on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, aiming to promote cultural exchanges and strengthen development cooperation between China and Ethiopia.
The annual celebration was held under the theme "Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space" at the Confucius Institute in the Ethiopian Technical and Vocational Training Institute (TVTI), offering a range of cultural experiences, including songs, kung fu, and traditional dances performed by Ethiopian students learning Chinese.
Speaking at the event, Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said language is more than communication. It is a foundation of understanding, the catalyst for innovation, and an enduring bond between world countries.
"The Chinese language carries the crystallized wisdom of the Chinese civilization and bears witness to the enduring friendship between the Chinese people and peoples worldwide, including Ethiopia," Zhang said.
She encouraged more Ethiopians to learn Chinese, strengthening the bond between the two countries and their rich histories.
"Chinese Language Day is a special occasion for us to celebrate the richness and beauty of the Chinese language, one of the oldest and fascinating languages in the world," said Biruk Kedir, director-general of TVTI, during the event.
He said the number of students taking Chinese language education in the institute is on the rise due to its increasing role in understanding new technologies and seizing job opportunities in Chinese-run companies across Ethiopia and beyond.
"By learning Chinese language, we are also understanding Chinese philosophy, art, science, and technology," said Kedir, noting that his institute in partnership with Confucius Institute and Chinese enterprises has launched several Chinese plus Vocational Skills programs to help Ethiopian technicians better understand technical manuals.
Sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, the event was co-organized by the Confucius Institute of TVTI and the Confucius Institute of Addis Ababa University, attracting more than 100 Ethiopian students and guests from the local Chinese community. Participants also experienced a wide range of Chinese cultural activities such as calligraphy, tea art, and paper cutting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
20 minutes ago
- The Star
Under-used hostel gets more support
A HOSTEL at SJK (T) Ladang Midlands is only housing 20 pupils, although it was built for 200 people, Makkal Osai reported. Shah Alam Tamil school board chairman K. Uthaya Sooriyan said the school and hostel were completed at a cost of RM9mil. The school board, management and parent-teacher association are working to get more students to stay at the hostel. Selangor exco member V. Papparaidu, said the state government will provide RM100,000 to help finance the operations of the school and hostel. The state will monitor the hostel and provide more help if needed. > The daily also reported that a tree in India became a pilgrimage site after one of its stumps began secreting 'holy water'. The tree, located in a public park in Pune, apparently began secreting water about a week ago. Locals began worshipping it and the stump was adorned with turmeric, kumkum and even claimed the water could cure illnesses. However, an investigation found that the liquid came from a leaking underground pipe and the water started coming through a gap in the hollow stump. It was unclear if it was repaired or if people had stopped coming. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Learning Chinese opens doors to broader opportunities for students in Indonesia's Purwokerto
Sixth-grade students learn and practice Chinese calligraphy at the Confucius Classroom in the primary school campus of Puhua School in Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia on May 16, 2025. – Xinhua photo PURWOKERTO (June 15): Under the morning sun in Purwokerto city in Indonesia's Central Java province, the sound of young voices reciting Chinese rhymes echoes through the classrooms of Sekolah 3 Bahasa Putera Harapan, a trilingual institution locally known as Puhua School. For students here, learning Chinese is more than just mastering a foreign language, it's a gateway to broader opportunities. 'At Puhua School, Chinese is used to teach more than just language. It's the medium for classes like traditional Chinese dance, martial arts, Di Zi Gui, calligraphy, and chess,' said Chen Tao, the school's principal. 'We aim to foster globally minded students fluent in Indonesian, Chinese, and English.' Founded in 1906 by the local Chinese community, the school has evolved into a full-time international institution officially registered with Indonesia's Ministry of Education. Today, it accommodates over 950 students and employs 24 Chinese teachers. Photo taken on May 16, 2025 shows the students' Chinese calligraphy works inside a classroom at the primary school campus of Puhua School in Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia. – Xinhua photo Kindergarten classes are taught nearly half in Chinese, and students in all grades receive at least 10 Chinese lessons per week. The school's cultural mission extends beyond language instruction. Open to students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, including Muslim families, Puhua School has become a hub for promoting Chinese language and culture in Indonesia. 'Chinese education here has moved from supplementary to mainstream,' said Lu Xiaoqian, director of the Chinese department at the school and a teacher from China's Hebei Province. 'When I arrived 20 years ago, most students were ethnic Chinese. Now, around 35 per cent are from non-Chinese backgrounds. Their parents see Chinese as a practical second language for academic advancement and future careers.' As China-Indonesia cooperation continues to deepen under the Belt and Road Initiative, especially in infrastructure, new energy, and the digital economy, Chinese has gained traction as a 'career asset' for Indonesian youth. 'Speaking Chinese has opened doors for me. It has brought me not just a well-paid job, but also respect,' said local Chinese teacher Opsie Emalia Putri, who studied in China and is currently pursuing a master's degree in international Chinese education. 'With more Chinese companies investing in Indonesia, there is a growing demand for local talents who can speak Chinese,' she added. 'And now, more families see Chinese as a path to better jobs and international education.' Sixth-grade students play Xiangqi, a Chinese chess game, at the Confucius Classroom in the primary school campus of Puhua School in Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia on May 16, 2025. – Xinhua photo For Professor Nuriyeni Kartika Bintarsari, head of international relations at Jenderal Soedirman University, enrolling her daughter at Puhua School was a strategic decision. 'China is one of the world's most important countries and Asean's closest partners,' she said. 'Our young people must understand China and communicate with confidence.' She hopes her daughter will study in China, gain global exposure, and one day contribute to strengthening bilateral ties. 'We need a generation with international vision, cultural understanding, and communication skills,' she added. One student already on that path is 18-year-old Oliviti Stefi Salonga, also known by her Chinese name Zhang Ziyi. After winning first place in the Central Java division of the 'Chinese Bridge' language competition in 2024, she has been admitted to Tsinghua University. 'Because I can speak Chinese, I can now watch Chinese dramas without subtitles and use Chinese social media apps easily. It's amazing,' she said. Her dream is to study architecture in China. 'Chinese culture and design fascinate me, especially places like the Forbidden City, where every detail feels like art. Tsinghua has one of the best architecture programmes in the world.' Photo taken on May 16, 2025 shows the school history museum in the secondary school campus of Puhua School in Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia. – Xinhua photo Oliviti's story is not unique. Many Puhua School graduates have enrolled at leading Chinese universities such as Fudan and Xiamen, joined Chinese-invested enterprises in Indonesia, or returned to their alma mater as Chinese teachers. In January 2025, the school partnered with Baoding University and Baoding High School Education Group to establish Indonesia's first Confucius Classroom hosted at a secondary school. The initiative provides structured teaching resources and training, and supports the integration of 'Chinese plus vocational skills' into the broader curriculum. 'As we always say, learning Chinese is like holding a key to a wider world,' said Principal Chen. 'With the strong momentum of China's development, we now have greater confidence in promoting Chinese education here.' – Xinhua A teacher guides students to practice martial arts at the primary school campus of Puhua School in Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia on May 16, 2025. – Xinhua photo China education indonesia Purwokerto school Xinhua
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Death toll in Air India plane crash rises to 274: media
Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team collects evidence from the Air India flight AI -171 crash site in Ahmedabad, in India's western state of Gujarat, June 13, 2025. - Photo: IANS/Handout via Xinhua NEW DELHI: (Bernama-Xinhua) The death toll from Thursday's (June 12) Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat has risen to 274, with 33 on-ground deaths having been confirmed, The Times of India daily reported on Saturday (June 14), according to Xinhua. The casualty count increasing beyond the 241 passengers and crew confirmed dead in the crash suggested that the other 33 victims were likely people on the campus of Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College, said the report. The Hindustan Times reported on Saturday that the Indian government has formed a high-level committee to probe the Air India crash, which will be headed by the home secretary and will have representatives, not below the rank of joint secretary, from the state and central governments. The Committee will publish its report within three months. Air India's flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, flying from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad to London, crashed on Thursday shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board with only one survivor. - Bernama-Xinhua
