United Nation stops using traditional Chinese characters

The United Nations has decided that it would use simplified Chinese as the only Chinese characters after 2008.

Mr. Zhou Youguang, a reputed linguist, said that the future application of simplified Chinese will justify the simplification of Chinese characters, which has won majority approval throughout the world. At the same time, as China becomes more influential in the globe, a larger number of people will learn Chinese. Under this circumstance, simplified Chinese will gradually become the exclusive standard of Chinese characters. Regarding the application of simplified Chinese in other regions congregating Chinese people except for the mainland, experts indicate that many schools in Hong Kong have promoted putonghua education. Though the HK Special Administrative Region government has not made a specific policy, the public are paying more attention to putonghua education. In addition, some Taiwanese also use simplified Chinese. Experts add that based on a survey report of strength of world´s major languages in 2005, Chinese language ranked second on the list. To date, China has set up 40 Confucius Institutes abroad to promote Chinese language education among foreigners.