China's support for Esperanto was hailed over the weekend at the conclusion of a global gathering of proponents of the global language in Beijing.

The 89th Universal Esperanto Conference wrapped up in the Chinese capital with the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, which urged governments across the globe to make the language a part of their educational curricula.

Advocates and proponents of Esperanto have over the years popularized Esperanto by making numerous claims about the educational, social and political advantages of the language. Over 2,000 people from more than 50 countries and regions took part in the week-long congress at Beijing International Convention Center.

The declaration, released on Saturday, also noted that this year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of official relations between the Universal Esperanto Association and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries President Chen Haosu told Saturday's closing ceremony that the Beijing Declaration, reflects the theme of the congress, which was "language equality in international relations," setting a milestone for international Esperanto movement.

Esperanto was invented by Polish Dr Zamenhof in 1887. It was designed as an international, second language allowing people with different native languages to communicate effectively while still retaining their own linguistic and cultural identities.

Universal Esperanto Association President Renato Corsetti said he was pleased with the results of the congress, expressing confidence about the development of Esperanto in China.

He said he hoped that people could pay more attention to the promotion of Esperanto in rural China.

He said he was very happy to see so many Asian Esperanto speakers and promised that the congress would return to Asia again, with Japan being a possible destination.

All-China Esperanto League Secretary-General Yu Tao, on behalf of the Universal Esperanto Association, read a congratulatory letter at the ceremony to mark the 100th birthday of Ba Jin, a well-known Chinese writer, and avid Esperanto supporter.

Yu was elected as a member of the seven-person Board of the Universal Esperanto Association.

He is the first ever Chinese person to hold this position.

The annual congress will be held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania next year.

Edvige Tantin Ackermann, a 40-year-long Esperanto speaker from Trieste in Italy said she was excited to be in China.

She said she learned the language out of curiosity and has gained the access to a network of contacts around the world.

"This is my first trip in China. Prior to Beijing, I've been to other parts of the country, including Guilin and Nanjing, it was a great experience," she said. "The Universal Esperanto Congress has opened up endless travel opportunities for me, I am having great fun."

She said she had participated in several Esperanto conferences in different countries and would be very glad to continue this journey.

China has about 10,000 active Esperanto speakers, among some 400,000 people.

Statistics show that there are about 10 million Esperanto speakers in the world, with notable concentrations in countries as diverse as China, Japan and Brazil.

(China Daily August 2, 2004)