KATHMANDU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Learners and teachers of the Chinese language gathered in the Nepali capital on Friday to sing songs and perform dances to mark the 15th United Nations Chinese Language Day.

Animation dubbing and poetry recitation were also performed by learners and teachers from the Confucius Institutes at Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University and the Confucius Classroom at Learning Realm International School, co-organizers of the event.

Asha Ram Maharjan and his son Alok Maharjan sang a song in Chinese together.

The UN Chinese Language Day, which falls on April 20, is being observed around the world under the theme of "Chinese Language: Connecting Cultures Through the Bridge of Mutual Learning."

Saying all the learners "performed well," Chairman of Nepal Language Commission Gopal Thakur noted that the UN celebrates the Chinese Language Day as a means to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity in the organization and that the Chinese language is now one of the languages of employment among the Nepalese.

Thakur described the Confucius Institute as a "trustworthy institution" to promote mutual cooperation in the field of language and culture, adding "I expect such institutes will help reduce poverty to some extent in Nepal and wish them to flourish."

On the occasion, representatives from Qinghai Nationalities University, East China University of Technology, Hebei University of Economics and Business and Beijing International Chinese College, which are co-building the Confucius Institutes and the Confucius Classroom, voiced readiness to deepen cooperation in Chinese education.

The Chinese learning in Nepal has received strong support from the Nepalese government and people from all walks of life, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song said, noting that more than 40 primary and secondary schools in the country have offered Chinese language courses as well.

"By learning Chinese, Nepali students and people from all walks of life have not only enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, but also injected new vitality into Nepal's cultural diversity and social development," Chen told the audience.

Asha Ram Maharjan learned Chinese six years ago, while his son Alok did it about one year ago, because it is good for their family business of statues. The Maharjans have been importing and exporting statues to Lhasa, the capital of China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

"I'm very happy to have a chance to sing a Chinese song," said the father.

Krishav Pant, 14, has studied Chinese for more than seven years and did well in past Chinese proficiency competitions.

"I believe that learning Chinese will help me get a scholarship in a college in China, which will help me go towards a brighter future and also help me learn about Chinese culture and learn about how China has become such a powerful nation and bring the technologies and ideologies to my country and help Nepal also develop just like China," he said.

For 15-year-old Shreyna Shrestha, she is getting more from learning Chinese.

"Learning the Chinese language isn't just learning the language," she said. "It's learning a lot of other skills as well, such as communication skills, and social skills."

"So I think by learning Chinese, those skills of mine have definitely been furnished and even going to China in the future will be quite convenient for me due to my familiarity with the language and the culture. So I think learning Chinese has been really effective to me," she added. Enditem

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