BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- An International Day for the Celebration of Mother Languages, which falls on Feb. 21 every year, will make its debut in China.

    The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO)introduced the day in 1999, aiming to promote people's awareness of their mother tongue, which, as an communication tool, represents a specific nationality or ethnic group and embodies a unique culture.

    According to Sun Lei, a senior official with the Beiijng office of UNESCO, people all over the world are using 6,000 to 10,000 languages as their mother tongue. However, half of these languages are dying or in danger of decline, due to accelerating globalization.

    "The international community now has the hard task of safeguarding these languages and maintaining the world's cultural diversity, which is believed to help promote peace and stability," Sun said at a press conference here on Friday.

    Zong Gang, a senior official with the chief sponsor, the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), said that China, faced with challenges and opportunities brought about by globalization, has fully recognized the importance of maintaining cultural diversity for the world's peace and development. To promote development of the nation's diversified culture can help build up a harmonious Chinese society.

    As a result, he said, the Chinese government responded immediately to the UNESCO's proposals on the celebration of the International Day of Mother Languages.

    The celebration will be held in Beijing Language and Culture University, including a symposium and an exhibition.

    The symposium, to open on Feb. 21, will invite Chinese and foreign scholars to discuss mother language education. Chinese experts will talk on how to protect the languages of China's minority ethnic groups and importance of teaching the Chinese language in schools.

    The exhibition, scheduled from Feb. 21 to March 6, will showcase the achievements of the international community in safeguarding and promoting different mother languages. The Chinese side will also introduce the its experiences of promoting Chinese languages domestically and overseas. Enditem