On April 12th, MCI | The Entrepreneurial University® in association with the Chinese Embassy hosted a grand event to celebrate UN Chinese Language Day. The event attracted more than one hundred participants who are interested in Chinese language and culture, including a diverse range of people, such as local government officials, members of the business community, students, and staff, who came together to celebrate this special occasion.

UN Chinese Language Day, observed annually on April 20th, was created in 2010 with the aim to foster greater appreciation and understanding of the Chinese language, while promoting intercultural communication and collaboration. This day offers an excellent platform to exhibit Chinese culture, literature, and art to the world.

This year’s event was jointly organized by Professor Wei Manske-Wang from MCI China Center and Professor Huang Chongling, Head of Education Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Austria. The event began with welcome address from Rector of MCI, Professor Andreas Altmann. Rector Altmann expressed his appreciation for Chinese culture and emphasized the necessity of cultural exchange and understanding in today's globalized world. Professor Huang Chongling also emphasized the importance of the Chinese language as a means of promoting closer ties between China and other countries.

Mr. Daniel Schreier, from Industriellenvereinigung (IV) Tirol, gave a keynote speech that caught everyone's attention. He shared his experience of living in China and learning Chinese. Mr. Schreier emphasized the interaction between language and culture and also mentioned the importance of language learning in promoting intercultural understanding and communication.

One of the highlights of the event was a performance of the classic Chinese song "Jasmine Flower" by The MCI Choir, following the keynote speech. The beautiful melody and lyrics of the song showcased the charm of Chinese folk music and left a lasting impression on the attendees.

After the performance, Ms. Yiqiao Wang, the Chinese language teacher at MCI shared some of the students' experiences about learning Chinese, she also presented the Chinese Corner activity - making dumplings. As UN Chinese Language Day coincided with Guyu, one of the solar terms in China. Ms. Wang took the opportunity to introduce the attendees to the 24 solar terms, a traditional Chinese cultural heritage.

In the evening, the atmosphere was pushed to a climax by the knowledge quiz section, in which Ms. Wei Wang from the China Center used animated videos to conduct a quiz session covering various Chinese elements. Everyone actively participated to win exquisite Chinese gifts sponsored by the Chinese embassy.

Finally, Ms. Xiao Litong, a cultural affairs representative from Chinese Embassy in Austria, also participated in the program. She introduced the art of Chinese calligraphy and the characteristics of different calligraphy styles and demonstrated how to write Chinese characters with a traditional brush pen.

After all programs, there were some fun activities on-site, including introducing Chinese painting, tasting Chinese cuisine, and practicing calligraphy. The lively atmosphere fully demonstrated the popularity of the event, and everyone gained a deeper understanding of China's cultural heritage and enjoyed the joy of cultural exchange and understanding. This event is also a reflection of the diversity and inclusiveness of MCI, the entrepreneurial university in Innsbruck.