In the Spring Festival of 2018, the Junior United Nations of Calligraphy organized the World Peace and Development Chinese Calligraphy Activity at the United Nations International School with the support of the school’s officer Paco Baba-moran and Chinese teacher Qingqian SUN. The president of Junior United Nations of Calligraphy, prof. Bin ZHOU, hosted the activity and presented a rich Chinese culture feast for all the students who were the children of UN diplomats from different nations. Distinct from other unilateral presentations that communicate Chinese culture through Chinese teachers only, the UN officer from Spain, Ana Larrea and Arturo Guerrero and the American artist Lucas Perez joined the activity through guiding all students from New York University and New School on practicing Chinese calligraphy. Students from over 100 countries at the activity practiced to write Chinese characters “春”,  “福” by calligraphy and make lanterns and Spring Festival couplets together. Through these unique Chinese traditional art forms, they expressed their personal understandings of Chinese culture. Foreign friends helped deepen the communication between Chinese culture and children of UN diplomats at the class in their own way. Introducing the Chinese culture to the world through teaching calligraphy among children of UN diplomats is a successful cultural communication practice achieved by Prof. ZHOU. It ignited the passion of westerns towards Chinese culture and demonstrated the strong charisma of Chinese culture.

The World Peace and Development Chinese Calligraphy Activity was held annually in the United Nations International School, which has become an important pathway for international communication of Chinese culture. It spreads the joy and happiness of Chinese Spring Festival to the world and brings the good will of love and peace. The Chinese Consul-General in New York City Ms. Qiyue ZHANG said,” It is of great significance to spread Chinese calligraphy and culture to the young generations of the world. Prof. ZHOU did a great job in taking every opportunity to communicate Chinese culture and tell Chinese stories in the world stage.”

The United Nations International School is an internal school for over 200 children of UN diplomats and officials. The Junior United Nations of Calligraphy was established at the United Nations International School and inaugurated by former UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon in April, 2014. It is a cultural communication organization that dedicates to international communication of Chinese culture. On November 21th, 2015, UN Calligraphy International Communication and World Peace Development Summit was held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of United Nations.  Former UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon and his wife, Counselor of Chinese Mission to the United Nations Mr. Jieyi LIU, Chinese Consul-General in New York City Ms. Qiyue ZHANG and other diplomats to the United Nations attended the meeting and made speeches.