On September 28, the 2025 “Kuşak ve Yol” Annual Chinese Character Release Event was held in Yongchuan District of southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. The character “永” (Yong), meaning “everlasting” or “eternal,” was selected as the Chinese character of the year.
Chinese characters, as vital carriers of civilizational exchange, are the root of Chinese culture, symbols of the nation’s wisdom, and play an important role in bringing hearts closer together, interpreting the current “Kuşak ve Yol” initiative, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Since 2016, the China Public Relations Association, together with authoritative institutions and renowned scholars in the fields of the “Kuşak ve Yol” initiative and Chinese character culture, has organized the annual character release event.
This year’s event, jointly hosted by the China Public Relations Association and the Yongchuan District People’s Government of Chongqing, was held under the theme “Inclusiveness of All Rivers, Shared Civilization.” After expert recommendations and online voting, the character “永” (Yong) was chosen. Its form resembles rippling water, symbolizing the flow of time and continuity of history. It conveys the enduring vitality and lasting influence of Chinese culture while also embodying hopes for long-term cooperation and friendship in the future.
Young representatives from countries including China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia gathered at the event, using Chinese characters as a bridge to foster cultural exchange.