H.E. Ms. Zainab Bangura, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

  Good afternoon!

  It is a great pleasure to gather with you all to warmly celebrate the 17th United Nations Chinese Language Day. Chinese is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and also the most widely spoken language in the world. I see more and more foreign friends around me learning Chinese, which shows that the Chinese language is increasingly reaching the world and resonating with people’s hearts.

  This year’s theme for Chinese Language Day at the United Nations Office at Nairobi is “Characters Endure, Civilization Shines.” Chinese calligraphy has a long history and is one of the most representative art forms of the Chinese language. As soon as I entered the UNON compound today, I saw friends from many countries holding Chinese calligraphy brushes, trying to write with lifted wrists, with the brush flowing in bold, dynamic strokes like dragons and serpents. I saw Chinese ink shimmering under the East African sun. I saw the soft rice paper giving off a gentle fragrance beside the acacia trees.

  While delighted, I could not help but reflect: in today’s era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, and facing a future of printing, digitization and paperless systems, why should we continue to preserve and pass on the ancient art of calligraphy?

  I believe calligraphy is not only the art of writing Chinese, but also carries the values, civilization outlook and worldview shaped by five thousand years of Chinese history and culture.

  Calligraphy embodies the value of “harmony in diversity.” Its beauty lies in inclusiveness. Many Chinese have practiced calligraphy, and I would like to share a few reflections. Strokes vary in length, yielding to one another while maintaining structure and strength. Within structure there is restraint and openness, embracing diversity without losing order.Take the character “和” (harmony) as an example, which best represents Chinese culture, its left radical “禾” bends like a grain stalk in humility and inclusiveness, while the right radical “口” stands firm and steady like a rock.The balance of yielding and responding, compactness and openness, vividly reflects harmony among differing values. Many of you here are diplomats who often encounter disagreements and disputes arising from ideological differences on multilateral platforms, yet ultimately overcome difficulties, reach consensus and pursue win-win outcomes. From the perspective of calligraphy, the world is diverse and expressions of values may differ, but the pursuit of respecting differences, embracing diversity and seeking common ground is the deepest shared value among nations and peoples.

  Calligraphy reflects a civilizational outlook of “equality and mutual learning”. Its beauty lies in diversity. From oracle bone script to seal script, from clerical script to regular script, from running to cursive script, a single character can take many forms, each with its unique charm. As President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative advocates respect for the diversity of civilizations, the world’s more than 2,500 ethnic groups each possess unique beauty, together forming a rich garden of human civilization. If the United Nations is compared to a work of calligraphy, then every Member State is an indispensable stroke. Some strokes are strong like horizontal and vertical lines, upholding pillars of security; some are delicate like dots, shaping the details of development; others extend like sweeping strokes, enhancing people’s well-being. Only when countries respect one another on the basis of equality can this work called “multilateralism” truly allow each to shine in its own way and in harmony with others, and stand the test of history.

  Calligraphy also conveys a worldview of harmonious coexistence. Its beauty lies in harmony. At the start of the stroke, one must be focused and well-prepared—strength lies in composure. The movement of the brush calls for steadiness—strength lies in cooperation. The finishing stroke is subtle and lasting—strength lies in spirit. Regardless of variations in technique and force, only integration into a harmonious whole creates a vivid work of calligraphy. Today, the international situation is turbulent, global relations face headwinds, and humanity confronts unprecedented challenges. We need more than ever the clarity to see beyond obstacles, the unity to pursue win-win outcomes, and the resolve to follow the right path. Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, emphasizing that humanity shares a common destiny and that nations’ interests are closely interconnected. Regardless of global changes, decoupling or isolation are not solutions. Countries should coexist harmoniously and build a global governance system based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

  Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, the year 2026 is the Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges, and mutual learning among civilizations is vital for advancing modernization. I am pleased to see that Chinese is becoming a “golden key”, unlocking opportunities in Africa and in Kenya. At Confucius Institutes and Luban Workshops in Nairobi, more African youth are not only learning to communicate technical knowledge in Chinese but also to express emotions through calligraphy. The Nairobi Spring Festival Temple Fair over the past three years has taught more international friends to write the character “福” (blessing), expressing hopes for a better future. I hope everyone today can experience the charm of Chinese calligraphy, feel the pulse of Chinese civilization, and experience the joy of cultural exchange and mutual learning.

  Thank you all!