2024 BRI annual Chinese character release held in Beijing

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A total of nine candidate characters from the Chinese written language were unveiled on Tuesday at a press conference for the 2024 Belt and Road (BRI) Annual Chinese Character Release in Beijing.

Initiated in 2016, the seven-year-old annual event, launched by the China Public Relations Association in collaboration with BRI and Chinese culture research institutions and experts, chooses one Chinese character that best represents the spirit of the BRI every year. The aim is to enhance the international community's recognition of traditional Chinese culture and promote cultural integration and economic and trade cooperation among countries.

This year's event, co-organized by the China Public Relations Association and the Quanzhou Municipal government, saw the release of nine candidate characters, namely, hui or benefit, lian or connection, chang or smooth, jian or firm, wen or culture, wen or stability, kai or opening, you or friendship and cheng or success.

"Every year, we pick nine Chinese characters among the 5,000 commonly used ones. Only one of them will stand out as the character of the year in the end. This character is expected to capture the spirit of the Silk Road and traditional Chinese culture and also show public support for the BRI," said Wang Daping, deputy director-general and secretary of the China Public Relations Association.

Last year, xin which means "truth, trust, honesty and confidence", claimed the honor of character of the year. It was chosen because xin, or honesty, mutual trust and confidence is of paramount importance in taking the BRI to the next level.

The organizers will collect public opinions and feedback on this year's nine candidates before announcing the winner on July 26.

China calls on the Philippines to stop infringement activities and provocations at once and not to challenge China's firm resolve to defend its lawful rights and interests, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

Commenting on the claim by the Philippines saying that the China Coast Guard fired water cannon at a Philippine vessel, Lin said Huangyan Dao has always been China's territory, and the Philippines sent Coast Guard and official vessels there and tried to intrude into China's territorial sea surrounding Huangyan Dao.

"In response, China did what was necessary to protect our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law. The measures are justified, lawful, professional and restrained," he said.