(Friday, April 17, 2026, Palais des Nations)

Distinguished Director-General Tatiana Valovaya,
President Shen Haixiong of CMG,
Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

In this beautiful spring season, it is my great pleasure to celebrate the 17th UN Chinese Language Day with all of you. We are blessed with lovely weather, and this is our first time holding the event outdoors. A warm welcome to everyone and my sincere thanks for joining us today.

Language connects people, and wisdom lights our way. The UN Chinese Language Day is designed to embrace cultural diversity and share inspiring ideas. This year’s theme is Zhi (智), which stands for wisdom. The Chinese character for wisdom has a special meaning: its upper part represents knowledge and understanding of the world， while the lower part stands for insight and the ability to tell right from wrong. In traditional Chinese culture, wisdom has always carried profound and lasting meaning.

First of all, wisdom sustains the lasting vitality of human civilizations. Chinese philosophy advocates “天人合一”, which calls for harmony between humanity and nature; “民惟邦本”, which means that “people are the foundation of the state”; “己所不欲、勿施于人”, which means treating others the way we want to be treated. These ideas still shine and guide us today. They shape China’s pursuit of green development, its governance philosophy of putting people first, and its diplomacy based on equality and non-interference.

Secondly, wisdom underpins national development and prosperity. China maintains social stability and high-quality growth by adopting governance approaches suited to our national conditions. We keep pace with changing times, balance development and security, and take both present and long-term interests into consideration. The path of Chinese modernization we have explored offers valuable reference for other countries seeking their own development paths.

Thirdly, wisdom unites all humanity. We are now facing common challenges—conflict, poverty, climate change, uneven development and digital gaps. All countries have closely linked interests and a shared future. Zero-sum thinking leads nowhere. Confrontation does not solve problems. Only by working together—through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual benefit—can we achieve steady and lasting progress together.

Friends,

As President Xi Jinping has pointed out, openness and inclusiveness have made Geneva a core hub of multilateral diplomacy. It gathers diverse forces for global governance reform, and the United Nations and other international organizations here serve as key pillars of multilateralism.

We are shouldering important missions, facing both serious challenges and rare opportunities. I hope the UN Chinese Language Day will become a platform for us to learn from each other’s history, strengths, and innovation. Let us work together with vision and wisdom, to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations grounded in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Together, we will build a better future for all humanity.

Thank you!