The UN Chinese Language Day, established in 2010 and observed annually on April 20, has been celebrated in Türkiye's Istanbul with an event highlighting the beauty and global significance of Chinese culture.

Under the theme "A Timeless Chinese Gift," this year's event was held on Friday by the Confucius Institute at Bogazici University.

In his opening speech, Gurkan Kumbaroglu, vice president of Bogazici University, noted that the event would deepen Turkish students' understanding of Chinese culture and enhance educational and cultural cooperation between China and Türkiye.

During the event, Xu Xufeng, an academic at the Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Academy, delivered a speech titled "Ode to the Peony," in which Xu traced the cultural journey of the peony motif from ancient China along the Maritime Silk Road to Persia and Türkiye, illustrating its role in Ottoman and intercultural art.

The event also featured cultural seminars, performances, and art exhibitions. Among them, the most eye-catching one was a performance by three master puppeteers from Quanzhou, eastern China's Fujian Province, who showcased the beauty of traditional Chinese string puppetry.

Meanwhile, an art exhibition was held to display contemporary works by Shanghai-based artists, with styles ranging from ink wash drawing and fine brushwork to vivid color painting, offering visitors a window into modern Chinese artistic expression.