2023 UN Chinese Language Day event kicks off in Vienna

A key event, which is an important part of the 2023 UN Chinese Language Day, kicked off at the United Nations office in Vienna, Austria on May 2 and served as a vital platform for China to expand its cultural influence on the global stage.

Themed on "Home of Confucius, Hub of the Belt and Road – A Real Story of the Global Civilization Initiative", the event attracted some 600 participants including government officials, diplomats and scholars from countries such as China, Germany, Austria and Italy to share views on historical civilizations and cultural communication.

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, said in his speech that civilization is the crystallized, collective wisdom in the development of human society and a driving force for world peace and prosperity. He also said the diversity of civilizations constitutes the premise and condition for exchanges between cultures.

"We will unswervingly follow the path of Chinese-style modernization and learn from other civilizations," he added.