China expects more people to use Chinese language as bridge to understand China, world: spokesman

China hopes more people will use the Chinese language as a bridge to understand China and the world, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday, in marking the 16th United Nations Chinese Language Day which falls on Sunday

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Lin Jian, the spokesman, extended congratulation on the 16th UN Chinese Language Day, noting that the holding of a series of events at the UN New York headquarters, the UN Office in Geneva and the UN Office at Vienna has not only reflected the cultural heritage embodied in the Chinese language, but also highlighted the wisdom and values of Chinese civilization.

"The widespread use of the Chinese language in multinational platforms including the UN is an epitome of China's increasingly deepening cooperation with the UN Since China put the first character of its signature on the UN Charter with a Chinese writing brush 80 years ago, China has all along upheld the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, maintained the United Nations-centered international system, and supported the UN in playing an important role in international peace and development affairs, in deepening cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and in promoting peace and development of the world," Lin said.

"Delicious soup is made by combining different ingredients. The Chinese language is a carrier that transcends through time and serves as a bridge to the future. We hope more people can use the Chinese language as a bridge to understand China and the world, and we are ready to work with all other countries to solve confrontation through dialogue, settle differences with an inclusive mind, jointly build a community of shared future for mankind, and usher in a new chapter for all countries to prosper respectively and together through mutual learning," he said.

The UN's Language Day, introduced in 2010, is intended to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity, ensuring equal use of the six official UN languages -- Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The Chinese Language Day is celebrated on April 20, around the time of Guyu (Rain of Millet), the sixth of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This date honors Cangjie, the legendary figure believed to have invented Chinese characters.

China expects more people to use Chinese language as bridge to understand China, world: spokesman

The Syrian government and people have roundly welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement to lift all sanctions against Syria, with many believing it will give a major boost to the conflict-ravaged country's recovery from years of civil war.

Trump announced during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that he would remove the long-standing sanctions on Syria, with the Syrian foreign ministry welcoming the move as a "pivotal turning point for the Syrian people".

Another significant moment came on Wednesday when Trump held a face-to-face meeting with Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in the Saudi capital Riyadh -- marking the first encounter between a U.S. president and a Syrian leader in decades -- with the two discussing the normalization of bilateral ties.

Prior to Trump's announcement, the Syrian foreign ministry noted that the long-imposed sanctions, which originally applied to the former government, were still having a direct impact on the Syrian people and had hindered efforts to facilitate the country's post-war recovery and reconstruction.

The news of the removal of all U.S. punitive measures was immediately met with an outpouring of joy in Syria, with large crowds taking to the streets of Damascus and elsewhere in the country to celebrate.

The Syrian pound also reportedly gained in value following Trump's decision.

Ziad Arabsh, an economic consultant for the Syrian government, said the U.S. move has now cleared a major obstacle to Syria's economic recovery and post-war reconstruction efforts.

"The access of Syria to the world technology is extremely vital to rebuild the long years [of] destroyed infrastructure, and this will lead to the economy [being boosted] and help Syria in [its] reconstruction instead of sliding into fragmentation," Arabsh said in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Damascus.

Trump's surprise announcement came on the first day of his four-day whirlwind tour across the Middle East, which has seen him visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar before he is expected to conclude the trip in the United Arab Emirates.

Trump's remarks about the sanctions relief and his meeting with al-Sharaa came at a time when the new leadership in Damascus is striving to rally international support for the country to cope with extreme challenges after over a decade of conflict and economic hardship.

Syrians welcome Trump's announcement to lift all sanctions