The Confucius Institute of the state-run University of Liberia (UL) at the weekend climaxed its celebration of International Chinese Language Day, held under the theme, “Chinese Language: Connecting Culture through the Bridge of Mutual Learning”.
Speaking at the 13th Street administrative compound of the institute, Professor Dexter Sumo, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia, lauded the administration and instructors at the institute for impacting knowledge of Chinese culture and language into Liberian students.
He stated that the knowledge transferred has built a lasting diplomatic bridge between the two countries, China and Liberia.
Prof. Sumo encouraged students to put in time to recognize characters of the Chinese language, adding that recognizing Chinese characters are cardinal to learning the Chinese language.
He admonished students of the Confucius Institute to exert more energy in their studies and make Liberia proud in the up-coming 2024 Chinese Language competition in China.
Meanwhile, the Confucius Institute which has motivational words, “Learn Chinese, Enjoy the Future”, saw many Liberians at the Confucius Institute winning awards in the Chinese Character Writing Competition, as they displayed their knowledge of Chinese culture.
The International Chinese Language Day came out of a resolution passed by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the first Chinese Language Day held in 2010 to celebrate Chinese as one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
The date of the International Chinese Language coincides with the “Grain Rain” (Gu Yu, around April 20th), the 6th of the twenty-four solar terms to pay tribute to Cang jie, who invented Chinese characters about 5,000 years ago.
Chinese Legend says and that when Cang jie finished creating Chinese characters, the gods rained grain upon the earth.
The Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia (UL) was formally launched on December 18, 2008 to promote cultural exchange amongst Liberians and Chinese.
In remarks, Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Zhou Yuxiao, explained the motive leading to the establishment of the institute, and several Liberians, most of whom are university students, expressed their eagerness to learn Chinese here in Liberia.
Since its establishment, Liberian students have continued to flourish in the Chinese language and culture as the two nations continue a strong bilateral relationship.
