Source: Overseas Network
On April 20, 2022, the "Hello, Chinese" hosted by the Embassy in Portugal and the Macao Science and Culture Center. The celebration of the first Portuguese "International Chinese Day" was successfully held. Ambassador Zhao Bentang to Portugal, Elvira Fortunato, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Portugal, Raul Coelho, Secretary-General of Portuguese Science and Education, Ma Jianfei, Director of the Sino-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Carmen Mendes, Chairman of the Macao Science and Culture Center, João Almeida, President of the Portuguese Cammons Academy, Professor Lin Baona, Portuguese Director of UNESCO of the Ibero-American Countries, attended and delivered speeches, Tan Junrong, Director of the Economic and Trade Office of Macao in Lisbon, and General Vecchili, former Governor of Macao. Professor Gao Shan, former Director of the Macao Liaison Office in Lisbon, the first Chairman of the Macao Science and Culture Center, and Professor Yi Manhui, Director of the Auvich Foundation, attended the event Chinese, and representatives of Portuguese public secondary schools, Teachers and students of Portuguese Chinese Schools, and Chinese enthusiasts from all walks of life in Portugal attended the event online and offline.
Ambassador Zhao Bentang said in his speech that Chinese is the most widely used language in the world, has always been an important carrier for the dissemination of Chinese culture, and has made positive contributions to the development and progress of human civilization. Chinese profoundly reflects the ideological connotation and way of dealing with the world in Chinese. Only by coordinated development, economic growth, social progress and environmental protection can the world be more harmonious and beautiful.
Ambassador Zhao said that Chinese received a warm welcome in Portugal. There are currently 5 Confucius Institutes and 2 Confucius Classrooms in Portugal. Portuguese public secondary schools have also carried out Chinese projects, Chinese increasingly become a link between China and Portugal to connect the friendly feelings of China and Portugal and promote mutual knowledge and affection between the Chinese and Portuguese people. It is hoped that China and Portugal will continue to cooperate sincerely, jointly promote the better development of Chinese projects, provide a more solid public opinion and social foundation for bilateral cooperation, build a closer China-Portugal comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and make greater contributions to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Minister Fortunato said that the "International Chinese Day" activities are of great significance to the promotion of the development of linguistic and cultural diversity. Cooperation between China and Portugal in science and technology and higher education has a history of 30 years, and has achieved fruitful results, becoming the highlight of Portuguese-Chinese cooperation. The Portuguese side will increase investment and cooperate closely with the Chinese side to further expand the space for cooperation and development between the two countries.
Secretary-General Coelho said that since 2015, the Portuguese Ministry of Education has carried out Chinese projects in Portuguese public secondary schools in cooperation with the Centre for Language Convergence. Chinese project has been welcomed and loved by Portuguese secondary school students, and the Portuguese Ministry of Education will continue to work to develop the project and promote the promotion and development of Chinese in Portugal.
Director Ma Jianfei said that language is the best key to understanding a country. The people of China and Portugal learn each other's languages and enhance mutual understanding, which plays an important role in promoting people-to-people ties and friendly exchanges between the two peoples. In the future, we hope to continue to cooperate with the relevant institutions of the Portuguese side to provide high-quality services to Portuguese Chinese learners, and jointly make new contributions to enhancing international understanding, solidarity and cooperation and building a better world.
In their speeches, Carmen Mendes, President of the Macao Centre for Science and Culture, João Almeida, President of the Portuguese Cammons Academy, and Professor Lin Baona, Director of UNESCO of the Ibero-American Countries, said in their speeches that the friendship between Portugal and China has a long history, language learning and exchanges are the best way to enhance the friendship between the two countries, and the "International Chinese Day" activity provides a platform for Portuguese-Chinese language exchanges and cooperation.
The event announced the "Hello, Chinese" held to celebrate the "International Chinese Day". The results of the Short Video Contest for Secondary School Students in Portugal showcased the first prize winners, "Our Chinese Lessons" and "Hello, Chinese!" 》。 Chinese and Portuguese musicians performed pipa and guitar ensembles, and the Portuguese Jasmine Choir sang Chinese and Portuguese songs, and the celebration ended in a warm and cheerful atmosphere.