Themed on “Telling China’s Stories Well: Training Foreign Language Storytellers for the New Era”, the 25th Annual Conference of National Foreign Studies Universities Collaboration Committee for Student Affairs was held at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) in Beijing on Dec 15.

The 25th Annual Conference of National Foreign Studies Universities Collaboration Committee for Student Affairs is held at BFSU on Dec 15. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Conducted both online and offline, the conference was attended by representatives from 14 renowned foreign studies universities across the nation and presided over by Su Dapeng, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee. 

Wang Dinghua, secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, delivers a speech on the cultivation of high-quality international talents at the conference. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Wang Dinghua, secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, delivered a speech on the cultivation of high-quality international talents, stressing the importance of moral education. He suggested that foreign studies universities should foster talents with patriotism, global vision and professionalism and uphold a student-oriented approach in youth education. 

The National Foreign Studies Universities Collaboration Committee for Student Affairs should pay close attention to student work, provide stronger support for relevant faculty members and contribute to the development of student affairs in the new era, Wang added.

Zhang Wenbin, an official from the Ministry of Education, thanks student affairs workers at the conference on Dec 15. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhang Wenbin, deputy director-general of the Department of Moral Education at the Ministry of Education, expressed heartfelt thanks to the front-line workers engaging in student affairs on behalf of the department. Zhang noted that foreign studies universities should cultivate students with good values and moral integrity, make innovations in ideological and political work, guide students to integrate personal development with national strategy and help China better reach out to the world. 

Kou Hongjiang, a representative from the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, speaks on the missions of foreign studies universities at the conference via video link. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Kou Hongjiang, director of the Publicity and Education Department of the Education Working Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said that in regards to telling China’s stories well, foreign studies universities should guide students to understand the prevailing trends in domestic and international development and learn about Chinese characteristics, international situations, the responsibility and historical missions of the times, as well as the relationship between aspirations and actions.

These universities should give full play to their language advantages, empower students with new technology and put innovation into practice, said Kou.

Zhang Chaoyi, director of the Institute of International Communication of Chinese Culture at BFSU, shares her views on foreign language talent cultivation. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhang Chaoyi, director of the Institute of International Communication of Chinese Culture at BFSU, delivered a keynote speech titled Telling China’s Stories Well: Training Foreign Language Storytellers for the New Era, in which she shared her views on the orientation, goals and means of foreign language talent cultivation. 

The annual conference set seven topics for panel discussions, which were the role foreign studies universities have played in promoting Sino-foreign exchanges and building a community with a shared future for mankind, the cultivation of well-rounded talents with patriotism, global vision and professional skills in the new era, opportunities and challenges faced by online ideological and political work in the era of we-media, exploration and practice of employment-oriented education, brand construction of college students’ social practice, reform of the comprehensive evaluation system for college students and provision of mental health education and crisis intervention for college students.

Representatives from Shanghai International Studies University, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing Language and Culture University and BFSU showcased their achievements in nurturing foreign language talents to tell China’s stories and exchanged views with attendees of the conference.

The conference also introduced outstanding ideological and political programs launched by the University of International Business and Economics, Xi’an International Studies University, Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), Zhejiang International Studies University and BFSU. The conference received 107 papers and 14 excellent projects, which have been collected in one volume.

Su Dapeng, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, summarizes the achievements of the conference at the closing ceremony. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Su said at the closing ceremony that the conference injected new vitality into the steady and high-quality development of foreign studies universities and provided new perspectives and innovative approaches for student work.

According to Su, in the face of great changes, those universities should roll out new initiatives to address challenges in the new era and respond to the calls of the times. He added that colleges and universities should work with the National Foreign Studies Universities Collaboration Committee for Student Affairs and cooperate with each other.

An initiative named Telling China’s Stories Well: Training Foreign Language Storytellers for the New Era was launched at the conference.

Su Dapeng, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, hands over the flag of the National Foreign Studies Universities Collaboration Committee for Student Affairs to Tan Yao, a representative from SISU. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Su handed over the flag of the committee to Tan Yao, a representative from SISU, which will be the venue for the 26th annual conference.

Li Yancheng, a member of the standing committee of the CPC SISU committee and vice-president of the university, invited foreign studies universities nationwide to visit SISU next year and seek common development. 

Delegates visit the history museum and the world language museum at BFSU to absorb the university’s culture and learn about its profound history. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]