The 2026 iteration of UN Chinese Language Day was officially celebrated with a grand gala held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York this Monday, gathering attendees to highlight the profound cultural and historical value of one of the world’s most widely spoken languages.
During the event, Sun Lei, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, delivered remarks that centered on the unique role the Chinese language has played across human history. He emphasized that the language carries the accumulated wisdom of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and has stood as a silent witness to the sweeping changes and evolution of global human society over millennia.
First established by the United Nations Department of Public Information in 2010, UN Language Days were created to celebrate linguistic diversity, promote multilingualism, and raise awareness of the six official UN languages—Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic—across the global community. UN Chinese Language Day is annually held around April 20, to tie in with the traditional Chinese festival of Guyu, the Grain Rain, which honors Cang Jie, the legendary figure credited with the creation of Chinese characters.
This year’s event continues the UN’s long-running commitment to honoring cultural exchange through language, creating a platform for delegates and attendees from around the world to engage with the depth and richness of Chinese language and culture.