Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai speaks during a series of Chinese cultural activities to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17, 2026. A series of Chinese cultural activities was held in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day, showcasing various performances to promote the Chinese language and culture. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

ADDIS ABABA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A series of Chinese cultural activities was held in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day, showcasing various performances to promote the Chinese language and culture.

The event, jointly organized by the Ethiopian Technical and Vocational Training Institute (TVTI) and the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, featured cultural activities by Chinese language students from Confucius Institutes at TVTI and Addis Ababa University, as well as preschoolers from TVTI's 21st Century Community School.

Addressing the event, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai said that Chinese language education has flourished in Ethiopia, with Confucius Institutes and the Luban Workshop cultivating many young Ethiopian talents who are proficient in the Chinese language and equipped with critical professional skills.

He said the Chinese language, as the carrier of the 5,000-year-old wisdom of Chinese civilization, serves as an important bridge connecting China with the world.

Chen emphasized China's readiness to deepen cooperation with Ethiopia to integrate Chinese language education into the national schooling system and expand the "Chinese + Vocational Skills" model, adding that such efforts will make "Chinese a bridge of friendship for practical cooperation and a foundation for mutual learning between our civilizations."

The Chinese Language Day celebration also witnessed a wide array of cultural performances, including traditional Chinese songs and dances, poetry recitation, calligraphy, paper-cutting, kung fu displays, an exhibition on the history of the China-Ethiopia community with a shared future, and a Chinese artificial intelligence application experience.

Highlighting that language is a bridge that connects cultures and enables cooperation, Ethiopia's State Minister of Labor and Skills Teshale Berecha said the growing interest in the Chinese language among Ethiopians, especially the country's youth, reflects the two countries' ever-expanding bilateral ties.

He said the "Chinese + Vocational Skills" model enhances the ability of Ethiopian youth and develops the skilled workforce needed by Chinese enterprises in Ethiopia, ultimately contributing to investment promotion and industrial growth.

"In recent years, cooperation in education and skills development has delivered tangible results. We highly commend these efforts and encourage further expansion in both scale and quality, so that Chinese language, skills and talent development can become a unique advantage for Ethiopia's development," Berecha said.

The celebration was held in line with the decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2010 to mark the Chinese Language Day on April 20, a day chosen to pay tribute to Cangjie, a mythical figure in China credited with the invention of Chinese characters. ■

Ethiopia's State Minister of Labor and Skills Teshale Berecha speaks during a series of Chinese cultural activities to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17, 2026. A series of Chinese cultural activities was held in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day, showcasing various performances to promote the Chinese language and culture. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

Children stage a performance during a series of Chinese cultural activities to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17, 2026. A series of Chinese cultural activities was held in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day, showcasing various performances to promote the Chinese language and culture. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

A kung fu performance is staged during a series of Chinese cultural activities to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17, 2026. A series of Chinese cultural activities was held in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day, showcasing various performances to promote the Chinese language and culture. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

A kung fu performance is staged during a series of Chinese cultural activities to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17, 2026. A series of Chinese cultural activities was held in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day, showcasing various performances to promote the Chinese language and culture. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

A child gestures during a series of Chinese cultural activities to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17, 2026. A series of Chinese cultural activities was held in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to mark the upcoming Chinese Language Day, showcasing various performances to promote the Chinese language and culture. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)