2025 Int'l Chinese Language Day celebrated globally, highlighting cultural diversity

International Chinese Language Day has sparked vibrant celebrations around the globe, showcasing the global resonance of linguistic diversity and cultural inclusivity.

Marking its 2010 establishment, the day coincided with Grain Rain, one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar, and emphasized equal recognition of the United Nations' six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

In honor of the day, the Confucius Institute at Prince Sultan University, a premier private institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, organized vibrant celebrations on Saturday. The event showcased Chinese culture through activities such as calligraphy and embroidery workshops, alongside displays of intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, attracting local enthusiasts.

At the University of Zambia, the Confucius Institute also marked the occasion by hosting celebrations that welcomed members of the local Chinese community and participants eager to immerse themselves in Chinese traditions.

"It's quite a delicate art in which you learn on how to write the beautiful Chinese characters, also known as 'Han Zi' in Chinese," said Damian Mukumbuta, a Zambian student.

"Paper-cutting is one way of learning Chinese. You get to learn paper cutting in different ways, different styles, and it brings out different shapes which are really nice and attractive," said Godfridah Malama, a Zambian student.

Meanwhile, similar celebrations took place in Turkmenistan, adding to the worldwide enthusiasm for honoring Chinese language and culture.

2025 Int'l Chinese Language Day celebrated globally, highlighting cultural diversity

Influenza activity in China has declined for four consecutive weeks, with recent tests showing common pathogens and no evidence of new infectious diseases, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Tuesday.

At its first press briefing of 2026, the commission reported that flu activity nationwide remains moderate at the moment.

According to Xin Li, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, respiratory samples collected from sentinel hospitals indicated that the influenza virus was the most common pathogen, accounting for 27.4 percent of cases, followed by respiratory syncytial virus at 8.8 percent and rhinovirus at 5.7 percent.

"Influenza activity in China has declined for four consecutive weeks and remains at a moderate level overall. Analysis of nationwide fever clinic consultations, influenza-like illness cases at sentinel hospitals, and multi-pathogen testing shows that all detected pathogens are known common ones, with no evidence of unknown pathogens or new infectious diseases," Xin told the press.

Data from sentinel hospitals indicated flu activity was falling across provincial-level regions, while reports of school outbreaks dropped for five consecutive weeks. Laboratory tests showed that 97.3 percent of positive influenza samples were H3N2 subtype viruses.

China flu activity declines for fourth week, no new pathogens detected: official