by Meng Fanrong

International Chinese Language Day event at Faisalabad Medical University, photo provided to CEN

ISLAMABAD, Apr. 23 (China Economic Net) - From the plains of Punjab to the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, the beauty of the Chinese language and culture was recently on display as Pakistan joined the world in celebrating International Chinese Language Day, observed annually on April 20.

International Chinese Language Day event at UET Lahore, photo provided to CEN

Hundreds of students and faculty members participated in a series of vibrant events organized at multiple Pakistani universities and educational institutions, including the Confucius Institute at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Faisalabad Medical University, Karakoram International University (KIU), the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, and the Confucius Classroom at Cadet College Petaro. Each institution organized its own distinctive activities, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for Chinese language and culture across the country.

International Chinese Language Day event at Confucius Institute at UAF, photo provided to CEN

Chinese is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and its global influence continues to expand at an impressive pace. Data shows that 90 countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems, with nearly 210 million people worldwide learning or using the language. In 2025 alone, over 800,000 candidates took the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) worldwide.

In Pakistan, interest in learning Chinese has surged in recent years, largely driven by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the increasing opportunities it brings in trade, industry, and diplomacy. The events showcased the deepening cultural and educational ties between China and Pakistan, highlighting how language learning is opening new doors for Pakistani youth.