On February 16, Chinese Consul General in Kolkata Mr. Zha Liyou was invited to attend 6th Year Panihati Book and Little Magazine Fair organized by International Mother Language Celebration Committee in Panihati. General Secretary of the Association Mr. Koushik Pal, President of the Program Mr. Dulal Chakraborty, Assistant Professor of Chinese Language Dr. Anirban Ghosh, Bengali singer Mr. Pratul Mukhopadhaya, Mr.Dyutiman Bannerji, Mr. Anil Acharya, teachers and students from local schools amounting to more than 200 people attended the event.
In his speech, Consul General Mr. ZhaLiyou pointed out that he was very glad to be invited to the celebration of International Mother Language Day again. Mother tongue is a tool for people in every country to integrate into society, and it is also a carrier of culture and values. The people of every country should be proud of their mother tongue, and make good use of, protect and pass on their mother tongue. At the same time, we are supposed to actively learn foreign languages, through which we understand other cultures and to serve as a bridge for communication between our own cultures and foreign cultures. This year the Chinese Consulate General actively responded to the committee’s initiative to hold a China-themed photo exhibition, and selected 60 pictures to show China’s extraordinary development achievements in the 10 years of new era and new looks of China’s Tibet. The Chinese Consulate General is willing to work with friends from all walks of life to promote various cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and East India.
The guests at the scene introduced the origin and history of International Mother Language Day, called for the importance, protection and inheritance of their own language and culture with practical actions, thanked the Chinese Consulate General for its strong support, and expressed their willingness to actively participate in exchanges with China.
Chinese Consul General Mr. Zha Liyou and other guests visited the China-themed photo exhibition and presented footballs to local schools and clubs. Mr. Zha also visited the publication exhibition of local primary and secondary schools, had cordial conversations with the local people and kids who came to perform, and took photos with them. This is the first time that Chinese Consulate General in Kolkata has visited the scene to support the event after the outbreak of Covid-19 Pandemic.