The 2024 World Chinese Language Conference is being held in Beijing. The event is hosted by China’s Ministry of Education, bringing over 2,000 education leaders, scholars and educators from more than 160 countries and regions to discuss the future of Chinese language education. Zhou Yixin reports.
With the theme focused on interconnection and integration, this year’s World Chinese Language Conference aims to strengthen cultural exchanges and deepen mutual understanding through language education.
ZHOU YIXIN Beijing “This year’s conference brought together education professionals from over 160 countries and regions, including officials from education departments, administrators of overseas universities, and leaders of international language and cultural promotion organizations.”
As China’s influence continues to rise globally, young people around the world are increasingly willing to learn Chinese, recognizing the role it plays in expanding potential job opportunities and engaging in global business.
PROFESSOR FALK HOEHN Director, Confucius Institute Stralsund University of Applied Sciences, Germany “For most of the students studying science and technology, it is important to know what is happening in China. They have to read articles, magazines, and so on.”
Despite political challenges, many educators are striving to help break down barriers, stereotypes and misunderstandings, promoting people-to-people relationships.
PROFESSOR PAUL MANFREDI Director of Chinese Studies Program Pacific Lutheran University, United States “For Young people in particular, I think that the study of Chinese certainly presents all kinds of opportunities. We are still quite connected countries, no matter what happens in terms of ideology. And I think when students start to see that, and most importantly, when students come to China, that’s the most essential learning.”
Experts believe language is not just a tool for career development but also crucial for expanding one’s horizons and seeing more possibilities.
PROFESSOR LUIS ANTONIO PAULINO Director, Confucius Institute Sao Paulo State University, Brazil “Learning Chinese opens a lot of new opportunities for your life, not just opportunities to work in a company to make money, but it is also an opportunity to open their mind, and to have a broader view of the world.”
As the demand for learning Chinese grows worldwide, international Chinese language education plays a key role in shaping the future, creating deeper economic, cultural and educational connections, with win-win cooperation at the heart of the story. Zhou Yixin, CGTN, Beijing.
Source: CGTN
