On the afternoon of May 5th, Chen Long wowed those present by singing two Portuguese songs while playing guitar during an event celebrating the World Portuguese Language Day at the UN Book Store in Guangzhou.

Chen Long performs at the event. (Photo: Sino-Commercial Trading Corporation)

A senior student with a Major in Portuguese from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), Chen Long went to the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil for a one-year exchange study in his junior year, and took a keener interest in the Portuguese language and its culture since then.

In addition to Chen's performances, guests from both Portuguese and Brazilian Consulates General in Guangzhou as well as Sino-Commercial Trading Corporation also joined the event to share Portuguese culture with attendees.

André Sobral Cordeiro shares a book with two children at the event. (Photo: Sino-Commercial Trading Corporation) 

André Sobral Cordeiro, Consul General of Portugal in Guangzhou, recommended the Chinese versions of three Portuguese ocean-themed books to readers at the event. Cordeiro said that there are currently 50 universities in China offering Portuguese majors, such as GDUFS in Guangdong, and that about 5,000 Chinese students are learning Portuguese. He hopes that more and more Chinese friends could learn about the culture and development of Portuguese-speaking countries and regions by learning the language.

Glaucio Jose Nogueira Veloso gives a presentation at the event. (Photo: Sino-Commercial Trading Corporation)

During his presentation, Glaucio Jose Nogueira Veloso, Deputy Consul General of Brazil in Guangzhou, mentioned that Portuguese is an important part of the Brazilian identity, and the language is both a tool and a bridge. If more Chinese people learn Portuguese and more Brazilians study Chinese, the exchange between the two countries will be smoother, he said.

After the sharing session, readers looked through an exhibition entitled The Economic Potential of the Portuguese and tasted Portuguese cuisine at the bookstore.

Guests pose for a group photo at the event. (Photo: Sino-Commercial Trading Corporation)

A group photo of all the attendees at the event. (Photo: Sino-Commercial Trading Corporation)

Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world. A mother tongue of about 250 million people globally, it is currently the official language of seven countries and one of the official languages of China's Macao SAR. In 2019, the 40th session of UNESCO's General Conference decided to proclaim May 5th of each year as "World Portuguese Language Day", which is celebrated worldwide for the second time in 2021.

China is one of the countries where Portuguese is most taught today, strongly contributing to its affirmation as a world language and to bring the Portuguese-speaking countries and China, as well as their respective peoples, even closer.

Author: Monica & Nancy (intern)

Editor: Nan & Jerry