From Tulsa to the UN: Celebrating Chinese Language and Culture
Dr. Alpha Zhang, Chair of the Tulsa-Beihai Sister City Partnership, at the Opening Ceremony for the U.N. Chinese Language Day.
On April 15, 2025, Dr. Alpha Zhang, Chair of the Tulsa–Beihai Sister City Partnership at Tulsa Global Alliance, represented Tulsa at the 16th annual UN Chinese Language Day held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This year’s theme, “Poetic China: Rhymes and Romance,” highlighted the rich literary and artistic traditions of Chinese culture through poetry, music, and calligraphy.
Dr. Zhang, also an Applied Assistant Professor at The University of Tulsa and founder of the Oklahoma Chinese Language Institute, joined educators and cultural leaders from around the world. Her participation emphasized the impact of local educational efforts and grassroots diplomacy in fostering global understanding.
China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, delivered a powerful keynote, emphasizing poetry as a bridge between civilizations. “This is not just a celebration of words,” he said, “but a dialogue among civilizations.”
The event featured a bilingual poem titled “Tune: Riverside Immortal – Light of Civilizations,” which celebrated cultural harmony and connection. China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, reminded attendees that language and poetry can serve as bridges between civilizations.
UN Chinese Language Day, established in 2010, honors Chinese as one of the UN’s six official languages and commemorates the legendary inventor of Chinese characters, Cangjie. For Tulsa Global Alliance, Dr. Zhang’s presence reaffirmed how Sister City relationships like the Tulsa–Beihai partnership continue to build meaningful connections across cultures.
