Chinese is more than a communication tool, young learner says

Detailed summary

As the 2026 World Chinese Language Conference unfolds in Beijing this week, young Chinese‑language learner Solo Uniacke, known in Chinese as You Zijun, offers a fresh youth…

As the 2026 World Chinese Language Conference unfolds in Beijing this week, young Chinese‑language learner Solo Uniacke, known in Chinese as You Zijun, offers a fresh youth perspective on the power of the Chinese language.

Uniacke, global champion of the 4th Chinese Bridge World Primary School Chinese Show, is the son of well‑known British actress Rosamund Pike. He began learning Chinese at age two, immersed in Chinese cartoons such as Monkey King, Big Head Son and Small Head Dad, and bedtime Chinese‑culture stories shared by his father.

"If you can speak Chinese, it's really like a weapon. You can do anything," Uniacke said in an interview.

He described Chinese as a practical tool to break cultural and linguistic barriers. Participating in Chinese Bridge connected him with peers across Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia, broadening his vision and fostering tolerance and open‑mindedness through cross‑cultural exchanges.

"Learning Chinese opens your horizons, lets you view the world from new angles and brings opportunities beyond imagination for young people worldwide," he said.

Hosted by China's Ministry of Education and co‑organized by the World Chinese Language Teaching Society alongside other institutions, this year's conference carries the theme "Chinese, More Than a Language". The event gathers participants from more than 160 countries and regions to discuss trends, opportunities and pathways for global Chinese education, against a backdrop of over 210 million Chinese‑language learners and users outside China.

The conference echoes Uniacke's observation: Chinese functions far beyond mere communication. It builds people‑to‑people bonds and facilitates mutual civilizational learning. For teenagers like him, language competence serves as a passport to cross‑border friendship and future global opportunities.

Opening of the article, excerpted from China Daily. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.