The Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda held a special event on Sunday afternoon to celebrate this year’s United Nations Chinese Language Day. The event, themed “Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space,” offered participants a close-up experience of Chinese language and culture. Speaking at the event, Lin Hang, chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, emphasized that Chinese, as one of the official languages of the United Nations, serves as a bridge of friendship between the Chinese people and the rest of the world.
“Language is a fundamental tool of communication. As you may know, Chinese is the only ‘living’ language among the ancient civilizations that is still in active use today. Currently, Chinese is taught in more than 190 countries and regions around the world, and 85 countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems,” she said. Lin also noted that China values true multilateralism and, with an open and inclusive mindset, seeks to enhance mutual understanding, appreciation, and friendship across borders and civilizations.
Zeng Guangyu, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, told Xinhua that when the institute was first founded in 2009, there were only a handful of students, as many believed Chinese was too difficult to learn. However, thanks to sustained efforts, nearly 20,000 Rwandans can now speak Chinese.
Zeng explained that learning Chinese has opened many doors for Rwandan students — helping them secure jobs, obtain scholarships, study in China, and even start their own businesses. “I’ve seen learners achieve their dreams through Chinese — some started companies, others found good jobs. They are truly transforming their lives through language. English is still widespread, but Chinese is an emerging language in East Africa and around the world. It represents the future,” he said.
This year’s celebrations also included the launch of a Kiswahili-Chinese-English textbook aimed at bridging Chinese with two of East Africa’s most commonly spoken languages. Zeng added that the celebrations featured a seminar on Chinese characters, workshops on writing and calligraphy, and various cultural activities held across different teaching centers.