Nanjing University’s 2024 UN Staff Chinese Training Program Concludes Successfully
On the afternoon of August 1, the graduation ceremony of the 2024 Chinese Training Course for United Nations Staff of Nanjing University was held at the Xianlin Campus. Hu Zhiping, deputy director of the China-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education (hereinafter referred to as the “Language Exchange and Cooperation Center”), Lu Yanqing, vice president of Nanjing University, and Dr. He Yong, head of the United Nations Project in China, attended the graduation ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Cheng Xu, vice dean of the School of Overseas Education.
In his speech, Lu Yanqing reviewed the glorious history of the project over the past 20 years, and especially thanked the Language Integration Center and Dr. He Yong for their long-term support. He also extended warm congratulations to all the students who successfully completed the Chinese training program, and affirmed the hard work of the teachers and volunteers of the School of Overseas Education. He emphasized that the students not only improved their Chinese proficiency in a short period of time, but also had a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, which is of great significance to the students’ career development. He looks forward to Nanjing University and the United Nations continuing to deepen cooperation in the future and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Hu Zhiping highly praised the great support and contribution provided by Nanjing University Overseas Education College in the Chinese Training Program for UN Staff. He stressed that Chinese language learning plays a key role in promoting international understanding and cooperation. For this reason, since 2004, the Chinese Training Program for UN Staff has been successfully held for 18 sessions, covering many countries around the world. As an important partner of the project, Nanjing University has always played an active and leading role.
In his speech, He Yong shared the profound impact of Chinese language learning on UN staff, praised the students’ efforts and achievements, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the teachers and students who participated in the project. He pointed out that the UN Chinese language training program has become a platform for learning and growth. Students from various countries not only learned Chinese and Chinese culture, but also shared professional knowledge with NCU students to promote international friendly exchanges and cooperation.
Teacher representative Jia Pingping reviewed every detail of the teaching process, showing her deep affection for the students. She looked forward to seeing them again in the future so that the students could communicate in more fluent Chinese.
Student representative Marie-Ange Diegue opened the speech by expressing her gratitude to Nanjing University and all the helpers in fluent Chinese. She reviewed her study experience and feelings in China, and said that she cherished this precious opportunity to learn Chinese in China and would continue to maintain her enthusiasm for learning Chinese in the future.
Afterwards, everyone watched a video clip of the current UN staff Chinese class. The video reviewed the wonderful moments of the students’ three-week study and life in China, which resonated with everyone and was met with applause and cheers in the venue. Then, Deputy Director Hu Zhiping and Vice President Lu Yanqing issued completion certificates to the students and took photos with everyone. Finally, the graduation ceremony ended successfully with the students singing wonderful Chinese songs. The melodious singing and sincere emotions showed the students’ love for Chinese and Chinese culture.
The project closing ceremony was also attended by He Wei, Director of the Standards and Test Assessment Division of the Language Integration Center, Wang Duoli, Senior Project Officer, Zhang Suogeng, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Overseas Education College, Zhao Wenshu, Dean, Cao Xianwen, Vice Dean, Zhang Quanzhen, Director of the International Chinese Education Department, as well as all the students, teaching representatives, project assistants and volunteers of the United Nations Chinese Training Program. The successful holding of the United Nations Chinese Training Program has built a platform for the students to learn Chinese and understand China, and also made a strong mark on the in-depth cooperation between Nanjing University and the United Nations. Looking forward to the future, both sides will continue to write a new chapter in Sino-foreign cultural exchanges and cooperation.