On April 20, diplomats from many countries at UNESCO jointly wrote a long scroll in Chinese. [Photo courtesy of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation]

In 2010, the United Nations designated the day of Grain Rain, the sixth solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar, as the United Nations Chinese Language Day. Legend has it that Cangjie, the official historian of Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor, invented the most primitive Chinese characters during the Grain Rain festival.

April 20 this year marks the thirteenth United Nations Chinese Language Day. The Center for Language Education and Cooperation and the Chinese education network platform known as Chinese Plus jointly held a host of celebration activities with over 300 institutions around the world, including Chinese embassies and consulates, Chinese educational institutions, Chinese and foreign universities and colleges, and enterprises. Since its inception 12 years ago, the United Nations Chinese Language Day has not only promoted the application of Chinese at the United Nations, but also become a window for people around the world to learn about Chinese language and culture.