2023 International Chinese Language Day was Successfully Held At University of Latvia
On April 20, 2023, with a clear sky and Spring scenery, Latvian Chinese language enthusiasts gathered together happily to celebrate the 14th United Nations International Chinese Language Day. The theme of this celebration is “Chinese Language: Facilitating Dialogues across Civilizations”, organized by Chinese Embassy in Latvia, Confucius Institute at University of Latvia and Latvian Students Association in China, presided over by Chairperson Karina Jermaka, and attended by about 200 people.
In their speeches, Directors of Confucius Institute Pildegoviča and Shang Quanyu, stated that today is the Grain Rain Day among the 24 solar terms in China. According to legend, five thousand years ago, Cang Jie created Chinese characters on this day. Today, Chinese language enthusiasts gather together to commemorate the contribution of Cang Jie, the “ancestor of Chinese characters,” for his creation of Chinese characters, and to celebrate International Chinese Language Day. We sincerely wish the flower of Chinese language to bloom brilliantly on the banks of the Daugawa River and the Baltic Sea, and promote dialogue among civilizations! Ms.Song Danhui, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Latvia, stated in her speech that in March of this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative for the first time, sending a sincere call to the world to promote in-depth exchanges and dialogue among civilizations, and to promote the progress of human civilization through inclusiveness and mutual learning. She affirmed that this event is a practical action to implement the Global Civilization Initiative and promote dialogue and exchange among civilizations. She also encouraged Latvian friends to learn Chinese, understand Chinese characters, enter the brilliant Chinese culture, and engage in dialogue with ancient Chinese civilization, so as to have a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of modern China and become ambassadors for friendly exchanges between China and Latvia. The Vice Rector of the University of Latvia, Valdis Seglins, said that in order to understand Chinese culture, one must first understand Chinese language and call on everyone to learn Chinese and the rich and colorful culture of China.
This celebration event is rich in its content, including martial arts performances, song performances, violin, guitar, flute and other instruments, “Fun Chinese” game Q&A, and the Confucius Institute’s specially created “Song of the United Nations Chinese Day” for International Chinese Language Day, etc. Riga Wushu Sports School brought a lively lion dance performance, marking the beginning of the Chinese Language Day celebration. Students from Riga Secondary School No.34 performed a choir called ‘Doraemon’, Arina Turguzina performed solo “I Love You Too Much”, Darja Mednikova played violin “Listen to Me Say Thank You”, Jevgenija Boženkova, Margarita Boženkova and Mikolas Smirnovs played trio ‘Drawing the Heart’ on the flute, Marija Švack and Pantelejs Švackis played Guitar Duet “Meteor Garden”, Veronika Nasredinova gave a violin Performance “Sweet Honey”, Elizabete Cauro and Enija Dīriķe from Riga Cultures Secondary School sung “Mohe Ballroom”, Vladlena Tumanova and Sofija Zazulina from Riga Secondary School No.13 perform dance “Drunken”, Anna Ņikitina from Riga Secondary School No.1 sung “Song of United Nations Chinese Language Day”, Marija Jurso, the former secretary of the Confucius Institute, sang “Lover” in Cantonese, and students from the Riga Wushu Sports School and the Konoha Martial Arts Team brought exciting martial arts performances such as “Wudong Qiankun”. In addition, there are two “Fun Chinese” game Q&A, quizzes interspersed in the middle. The audience raised their hands and enthusiastically answered the questions on site.
This grand celebration, which combines knowledge and fun, art and appreciation, came to an end amidst laughter and Chinese cuisine tasting. Language is the best key to understanding a country, a bridge to enhance dialogue among different civilizations, Chinese language is the bond of mutual understanding between the people of China and Latvia, and a bridge for friendly exchanges between the two countries. Sincerely wish the friendship between China and Latvia to last forever!
2023年4月20日，天朗气清，春和景明，拉脱维亚中文爱好者欢聚一堂，兴高采烈地庆祝第十四个联合国国际中文日。本次庆祝活动的主题是 “中文：增进文明对话”，由中国驻拉脱维亚大使馆、拉脱维亚大学孔子学院和拉脱维亚留华同学会共同举办，卡琳娜会长主持，约二百人参加了活动。
孔子学院拉方院长贝德高和中方院长尚劝余在致辞中表示今天是中国24个节气中的谷雨日，据传说五千年前，仓颉在这天创造了汉字，今天汉语爱好者欢聚一堂纪念“中华文字始祖”仓颉造字的贡献，共同庆祝国际中文日，衷心祝愿中文之花在道加瓦河畔和波罗的海之滨绚丽绽放，增进文明对话！中国驻拉脱维亚大使馆公使衔参赞宋丹卉在致辞中讲到，今年3月中国国家主席习近平首次提出全球文明倡议，向全世界发出深入推动文明交流对话，在包容互鉴中促进人类文明进步的真挚呼吁，并肯定了本次活动正是落实全球文明倡议、促进不同文明间对话交流的实际行动，还鼓励拉脱维亚朋友们学习汉语、读懂汉字，走进灿烂的中华文化，与古老的中华文明对话，从而更深刻、更全面了解现代中国，做中拉友好交流的使者。拉脱维亚大学副校长赛格林什在致辞中表示想要了解中国文化，就是要先读懂汉语，并号召大家学习中文和中国丰富多彩的文化。
本次庆祝活动内容丰富，异彩纷呈，有武术表演、歌曲演唱、小提琴、吉他、笛子等乐器演奏、“有趣中文”游戏问答，还有孔子学院为国际中文日专门创作的《联合国中文日之歌》等。拉脱维亚里加武术协会带来了活力四散的舞狮表演，拉开了中文日庆祝活动的帷幕。里加34中学的学生们表演合唱《哆来咪》、Arina Turguzina表演独唱《我超喜欢你》，Darja Mednikova小提琴演奏《听我说谢谢你》，Jevgenija Boženkova,Margarita Boženkova,Mikolas Smirnovs三人笛子演奏《画心》，叶尔加瓦第5中学玛莎Marija Švacka、善德Pantelejs Švackis吉他二重奏《流星花园》，妮卡Veronika Nasredinova小提琴演奏《甜蜜蜜》，里加文化中学罗唯Elizabete Cauro、艾文Enija Dīriķe演唱《漠河舞厅》，里加13中学美娜Vladlena Tumanova、苏文Sofija Zazulina表演舞蹈《醉》，里加第1中学安娜Anna Ņikitina演唱《联合国中文日之歌》，原孔院秘书玛丽娅 Marija Jurso用粤语演唱《情人》，里加武术协会学生和Konoha武术队带来了精彩的武术表演《武动乾坤》等活动。此外，中间穿插两次“有趣中文”游戏问答。现场观众纷纷举手，踊跃回答问题：“联合国中文日”是哪年创立的？哪一位神奇的人发明了汉字？“口袋”加“老鼠”是什么动物？万里追随你，从不迷路。不怕冷、不怕火，不吃不喝，太阳西下便消失是什么东西？一月一日非今天是哪一天？一家十一口是哪个汉字？一加一不是二是哪个汉字？说他是条牛，无法拉车跑，说他力气小，却能背屋跑，是什么动物？五个兄弟生在一起，有骨有肉，长短不齐，是身体哪一个部分？一家至少有一个，全国一共才几百，指的是什么？
这场融知识性和趣味性、艺术性和观赏性于一体的盛大庆祝活动，在欢声笑语和中华美食品尝中落下了帷幕。语言是了解一个国家最好的钥匙，是增进不同文明对话的桥梁，中文，是中拉两国民心相通的纽带，是中拉两国友好交流的桥梁，衷心祝愿中拉友谊长存！
