MINSK, 13 November (BelTA) - The Chinese cities of Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing hosted the poetry reading event dedicated to the 135th anniversary of the birth of Yakub Kolas, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in China.
The event was held by the diplomatic mission in conjunction with the Belarus study centers in China. During the event, teachers and students in the three largest cities of China recited one of the most famous poems of the Belarusian classic “Moi rodny kut" (“My Native Land”).
The event started in East China Normal University in Shanghai where China's first Belarus study center was opened in 2012. By the way, a book of Belarusian songs in Chinese was published by the anniversary date thanks to the efforts of the center and the Belarusian Culture Ministry.
Tianjin Foreign Studies University continued the poetry reading event. In recent years it has been actively working with the Belarusian universities to promote the Belarusian language in China. Professor Wang Mingyu, Vice President of Tianjin Foreign Studies University, said that taking into account the high level of cooperation between Belarus and China, and a long history of friendly relations between the two peoples, the university was the first in China to open an undergraduate program “Belarusian Language”. According to the vice president, in China there is a high need for professionals who know the language, history and culture of Belarus, and such informal events like this one contribute towards mutual understanding and rapprochement between youth of the two countries.
The event wrapped up in Beijing International Studies University which also has the Belarus study center.
The poetry reading event dedicated to the 135th anniversary of the birth of Yakub Kolas featured about 40 Chinese teachers and students of the Belarusian language and culture.
