Chinese embassy in the U.S. on Saturday marked the United Nations Chinese Language Day, which fell on April 20, by staging intimate Chinese cultural activities.
People from all walks of life and coming far and wide gathered in the embassy and immersed in the Chinese calligraphy, painting, ribbon dance and play diabolo, among other intersection activities.
Tearra and her daughter Cianna were practicing their Chinese calligraphy, Cianna is learning Chinese at school.
"Our world is expanding and especially in America and they can learn multiple languages and I think Chinese is definitely growing and very important to learn," said Tearra.
These students came all the way from New York dressed in Tang (618-907) and other Dynastic traditional costumes they have been learning Chinese for quite a while now- all agree it's challenging but they say stick with it.
"Don't be intimidated by it - I feel like everyone when I say I learn Chinese they are oh my gosh you must be smart - I'm not that smart I'm just a hard worker," said Ross Yablans, a student of Chinese.
For students, learning Chinese culture alongside the language is vital to say- a message echoed by Chinese officials here -who are encouraging more Americans to take up Chinese after President Xi Jinping's recent invitation to come and study in China.
"President Xi announced that China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years," said Shen Xuesong, Minister Counselor at Chinese Embassy in the United States.
U.S. foreign language experts agree that more Americans should take up the challenge and reap the rewards of an enriching and ancient language that is more and more vital in today's competitive commercial world.
"I just want to emphasize the fact of how bright that future will be for the students in this room who are learning Mandarin. It is an incredible investment in your future," said Martha G. Abbott, Executive Director of American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language.
Learning a language helps break down communication barriers and build cultural bridges- something we all need more of in today's world and in the future.
Chinese embassy in US marks UN Chinese Language Day
Serbia's cooperation with China has been the best as the two countries enjoy rock solid friendship and trust, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to the European country.
The Serbia president made the remarks in an exclusive interview with the China Central Television (CCTV) in Belgrade on Wednesday.
Vucic hailed the real friendship between Serbia and China.
"That time we were discovering each other. Now we know that there is a real friendship that's been established. Since then, we developed substantive trust between the top leadership of both countries. But I believe that there is a big change. We have never had anything against Chinese, never, ever. But now we like and we love Chinese people here, and we have nothing bad to say about our cooperation with China and Chinese state and Chinese people," he said.
"There were thousands of attempts from outside of the country in order to persuade us, to convince us that taking loans from China will create a dubious situation for fiscal systems of Serbia. But as you can see, an average public debt to GDP ratio in Europe now is 89.5 percent. And in Serbia it's 47 percent. We have no problems. We have always been cooperating in a very best manner with China," said the president.
The Serbian president hopes that more Chinese people will come to visit the country to better understand it.
"Apart from creating this trust and confidence in each other's decisions, in each other behavior within international public political arena. We developed our economic ties, trade ties and now it's time to go to another stage, a strategic partnership or how do we see a common future together. And at the same time, it's a also about people connecting to each other. That is, I believe, our task. And we expect more Chinese people to come to Serbia. I believe they feel at home here, and we like them and hope that this will bring more initiatives, different kind of initiatives, more businesses, more tourists, more people that would get to know many things about Serbia, Belgrade's history," said Vucic.
Xi will pay state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to 10.
Serbian president sees cooperation with China as best amid rock solid friendship, trust
