On April 19, the Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver hosted a celebration in honor of International Chinese Language Day. The event brought together over 100 faculty members and students from more than ten post-secondary institutions across the consular district.

Consul General Yang Shu emphasized that the Chinese language is a valuable public good contributed by China to the world. She encouraged young Canadians to learn Chinese, understand China more deeply, and appreciate the significance of Chinese modernization. She also pointed out that recent tariff coercion by the United States has severely undermined the interests of the global community, prompting firm countermeasures from both China and Canada. With Canada promoting trade diversification, Consul General Yang noted that young people proficient in Chinese will be better positioned to seize opportunities and share in the benefits of China’s high-quality development.

The celebration featured cultural experience zones including traditional Chinese medicine, calligraphy, and Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire). The event also included the award ceremony for theFinal of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for University Students in Vancouver.Faculty and students from the University of British Columbia’s School of Music performed excerpts from the Chinese opera Thunderstorm, offering attendees an immersive experience of the richness and charm of Chinese culture.