On April 19th, in celebration of the 15th United Nations Chinese Language Day, Shenyang Jianzhu University’s Confucius Institute at Transilvania University of Brașov held an event themed “Chinese: Building Bridges for Civilizations to Learn from Each Other.”The event was attended by Zhang Lili, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Romania; Corina Micu, Director of the International Relations Office at Transilvania University; Adrian Lăcătuș, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Romanian Director of the Confucius Institute; and Wang Bing, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute. They all delivered opening speeches. Other attendees included Li Zhengbo, Head of the Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in Romania; Zhang Gaiping, Chief Correspondent of Xinhua News Agency's Romania branch; Ma Xuehu, Vice President of Operations at Ningbo Huaxiang Group; Chinese directors from various Confucius Institutes in Romania; teachers and students of the Confucius Institute; and over 100 local Chinese language enthusiasts in Brașov. The event was covered by media platforms including Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua Net, the Chinese Government Network, and Andrei Saguna National College.
In her speech, Zhang Lili vividly showcased the charm of the Chinese language through the culture of Chinese characters. She noted that Chinese characters carry China’s culture and philosophy, expressing the hope that more students will gain a deeper understanding of China’s history and culture through learning Chinese, and thereby strengthen the friendship between China and Romania. Corina emphasized that language is an important window for understanding culture and facilitates deeper exchanges and understanding between different peoples. She noted that International Chinese Language Day holds profound cultural significance, and thanked everyone for their participation during Guyu, the traditional period of sowing seeds, symbolizing the cultivation of cultural exchanges. Adrian expressed the hope that through this event, students would gain a better understanding of China’s history, culture, and traditions, and appreciate the unique charm of the Chinese language, sparking their enthusiasm for learning Chinese. Wang Bing highlighted that April 19th marked the 15th United Nations Chinese Language Day, noting that Chinese, one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful languages, embodies China’s profound culture. The Confucius Institute at Brașov aims to assist more Romanian students in learning Chinese, understanding Chinese culture, and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between China and Romania, building a brighter future for both countries.
The International Chinese Language Day event was filled with exciting activities, and participants from various sectors celebrated together. Sun Xueying, a Chinese student in Romania, performed the traditional Guzheng piece "Battle Against Typhoon." Attendees also enjoyed a video showcasing the Confucius Institute’s Hanfu show, titled "Elegance of Chinese Attire, Charm of Spring." The choir from the prestigious Andrei Saguna National College performed the song "You Raise Me Up" in Chinese, while choir member Braga Marco Yang played a piano rendition of "Jasmine Flower." The event also featured the award-winning short film "My Story with China: Sino-Romanian Friendship through My Eyes" as part of the Confucius Institute’s series for the day. Confucius Institute student representative Sophia sang the Chinese song "Seems Like Falling Into Love," and Claudia Benga delivered a guitar-accompanied performance of the Romanian pop song "Under the Night Sky" in Chinese. A local renowned martial arts team gave a captivating Chinese martial arts performance.
In addition to these performances, students of the Confucius Institute and local residents experienced traditional Chinese cultural activities such as brush calligraphy and paper-cutting at a side venue. They gained a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture by tracing Chinese characters on paper and cutting out shapes like snowflakes and the character "Fu" (福, meaning good fortune).
The event was not only a visual and auditory feast but also a grand occasion for the exchange of Chinese and Romanian civilizations. Through this International Chinese Language Day celebration, Romanian students gained a better understanding of China’s history, culture, and traditions, and further appreciated the unique charm of the Chinese language. The event also fostered deeper cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and Romania.
