2024 International Chinese Day and “Panda Chinese” Textbook New Book Launch held with grandeur 2024国际中文日暨《盼达汉语》教材新书发布会隆重举行
On April 19, 2024, coinciding with the “Grain Rain” day in the Chinese solar terms, the International Chinese Language Day and the launch ceremony of the “Panda Chinese” textbook were held with grandeur. The event was hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Latvia, organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia and the China Alumni Association of Latvia. Mr. Tang Songgen, the Chinese Ambassador to Latvia, was invited to attend the event. Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Gundars Bērziņš, the President of the University of Latvia, prof. Pēteris Pildegovičs, Director of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia from Latvian side, Professor He Dong, Director of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia from Chinese side, Ms. Wang Nan, Director of the Riga Chinese Cultural Center, and Ms. Karīna Jermaka, President of China Alumni Association of Latvia. Representatives from about 20 organizations gathered together for this auspicious occasion.
In 2010, the United Nations Department of Public Information announced the establishment of the United Nations Chinese Language Day, designated on the Chinese solar term “Grain Rain,” commemorating the contributions of Cangjie, the legendary figure who was believed to have invented Chinese characters. This Chinese Language Day event was themed “Chinese: Building Bridges of Civilization and Cultural Exchange.”
At the beginning of the event, Ambassador Tang Songgen delivered a speech, stating that “Chinese characters originate from China but belong to the world”, “Chinese language has a unique charm. The beauty lies in the form, the structure, the rhythm, the strokes of the Chinese characters, the sounds of the Chinese language, and the rich stories behind the words”. He expressed sincere gratitude to the University of Latvia for its relentless efforts in respecting cultural diversity and enhancing cultural exchange and mutual learning. Professor Gundars Bērziņš, the President of the University of Latvia, followed with a speech, highlighting that “Chinese language is the most widely spoken language in the world”,”The University of Latvia is committed to promoting Latvians to learn languages from around the world. The University of Latvia can do and has done a lot to promote Chinese”, he also expressed that the University of Latvia would continue to make efforts for communication and understanding between the people of China and Latvia. Prof. Pēteris Pildegovičs and Professor He Dong also expressed their gratitude for the multi-party supports for organizing the event and expressed their wishes for the dissemination of Chinese language in Latvia.
Rain produces hundreds of grains, and everything comes at its right time. Highlight No.1 of this event: the official release of Latvian local Chinese textbook, “Panda Chinese.” Nearly a hundred people witnessed this momentous occasion. “Pàn” represents hope, and “Dá” represents achievement. “Panda Chinese” hopes that every student can achieve success, while the name also phonetically resembles “Panda,” hoping that this textbook will be loved by Chinese learners in Latvia just like the beloved panda. After seven years of preparation and with the support of various parties, “Panda Chinese” is an important achievement of collaborative efforts between Chinese and Latvian educators in compiling localized teaching materials, representing the wisdom of educators in China and Latvia, and it is an innovative achievement in international Chinese education.
Another highlight of the event was the diverse and exciting performances and interactive sessions with the audience. Students from Riga No. 34 School delivered outstanding speeches, performed popular songs “Find Friends”, another student sang the song “Speak Chinese,” Professor Pēteris Pildegovičs and Chinese language teacher volunteer Ms. Tang Luyao presented passionate recitations of classical Chinese poetry. Fun activities such as tongue twisters in Chinese, quizzes on Chinese cultural knowledge, and quick learning of Chinese poetry set up by Ms. Karīna Jermaka, the President of China Alumni Association of Latvia, brought laughter and joy to everyone present.
Language serves as a bridge to promote mutual understanding and friendship among people of different countries and enhances exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations. After the “Grain Rain”, warmth returns to the earth. The event was a complete success, and the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia will continue to contribute to the blooming of the “flower of Chinese language” with unwavering dedication!
当地时间2024年4月19日，正值“谷雨”日，2024国际中文日暨《盼达汉语》教材新书发布会隆重举行，本次活动由中国驻拉脱维亚大使馆主办，拉脱维亚大学孔子学院和拉脱维亚留华同学会承办。中国驻拉脱维亚大使唐松根先生受邀出席，同时到场的嘉宾有拉脱维亚大学校长Gundars Bērziņš先生、拉脱维亚大学孔子学院拉方院长贝德高教授、中方院长何东教授、里加中国文化中心主任王楠女士、拉脱维亚留华同学会会长卡琳娜女士等，共计约20家单位代表莅临现场，欢聚一堂。
2010年，联合国新闻部宣布启动联合国中文日，并将其定在农历二十四节气之“谷雨”，以纪念“中华文字始祖”仓颉造字的贡献。本次中文日活动以“中文：架起文明互鉴桥梁”为主题。
活动伊始，唐松根大使致辞，“汉字源自中国，属于世界”，“中文有着独特的魅力，美在形态，美在结构，美在音律，美在汉字的一笔一划，美在汉语的一音一律，美在词句背后的丰富故事”，唐松根大使对拉脱维亚大学在尊重文明多样性、加强文明交流互鉴方面的不懈努力表达了真挚的感谢。拉脱维亚大学校长Gundars Bērziņš教授随后致辞，“中文是世界上使用人口最多的语言”，“拉脱维亚大学致力于推动拉脱维亚人学习世界各地的语言，拉脱维亚大学能做很多、做了很多推广汉语方面的工作”，并表示将继续为中拉两国人民沟通了解做出努力。拉脱维亚大学孔子学院拉方院长贝德高教授、中方院长何东教授也发表了致辞，对举办本次活动的多方表示感谢，对汉语在拉脱维亚的传播给予了美好希冀。
雨生百谷，万物逢时。本次活动的亮点一：拉脱维亚本土汉语教材《盼达汉语》今日正式发布，现场近百人见证了这一刻。“盼”即盼望，“达”即达到，《盼达汉语》盼望每个学生都能达到成功，“盼达”又音似熊猫（Panda），希望这本教材能像被广为喜爱的“熊猫”一样也受到拉国汉语学习者们的喜爱。七年筹备，多方支持，《盼达汉语》是中拉两国中文师生共同编写本土化教材的重要成果，是中拉两国中文教育者的智慧结晶，是国际中文教育的一项创新成果。
本次活动的亮点二：精彩纷呈的节目表演以及和现场观众的有趣互动。里加34中两位学生精彩的台上发言，脍炙人口的歌曲《找朋友》，耳熟能详的歌曲《中国话》，以及拉脱维亚大学孔子学院拉方院长贝德高教授与汉语教师志愿者唐璐瑶老师的深情宋词朗诵，是本次活动的高潮。巧说中文绕口令、快答中国文化常识、速学中国诗词，拉脱维亚留华同学会会长卡琳娜女士设置的有趣现场问答使现场各位笑逐颜开。
语言是促进各国人民相知相亲、增进不同文明交流互鉴的桥梁。谷雨后无寒，人间皆向暖，本次活动取得圆满成功，拉脱维亚大学孔子学院也将一如既往为“中文之花”的美丽绽放贡献力量！
