On October 1, 2024, the Belgian Youth Song Contest took place at the Confucius Institute in Brussels. Thirteen talented contestants took the stage, using the universal language of music to foster understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Belgian communities, all while celebrating the annual Confucius Institute Day.
During the competition, participants were categorized into two groups: children and youth. Corine Zhang, a young girl from Brussels, captured first place in the children’s category. Meanwhile, Slootmans Yana of the Antwerp Chinese Association School won the top prize along with the Best Popularity Award in the youth category.
Fu Rong, the Chinese director of the Brussels Confucius Institute, expressed his belief that music serves as a “language without borders.” He highlighted that the contest aimed to inspire Belgian youth to learn Chinese and to reinforce the bonds of understanding and camaraderie between the two nations through music.
The event didn’t just focus on the song competition; it also coincided with the celebration of Confucius Institute Day. To honor this occasion, the Brussels Confucius Institute organized various cultural activities, including calligraphy, ink blowing, and paper-cutting demonstrations. Attendees were invited to savor traditional Mid-Autumn pastries and immerse themselves in the unique charm of Chinese festivals, celebrating the significance of family reunions.
Confucius Institute Day was initiated on September 27, 2014, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute. Since then, institutes and classrooms in over 100 countries have hosted open-day events around this date each year to promote and celebrate Chinese culture.
