The Eighth National High-end Forum on Teaching Reform and Development of the Japanese Major for Higher Education Institutions was held in Beijing from April 23 to 24.

Conducted online and offline, the forum was hosted by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), the Japanese branch of the Advisory Committee of Foreign Language and Literature Teaching in Higher Education under the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the China Japanese Education Association, and organized by Hainan University and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP).

The opening ceremony was presided over by Wang Fang, Party secretary of the CPC FLTRP Group committee, chair of the board of the FLTRP Group and president of FLTRP.

Ding Hao, member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, addresses the opening ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Ding Hao, member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, gave an opening speech, in which he said telling Chinese stories well requires a large number of foreign language talents and the university has been committed to cultivating such talents with patriotism. 

The theme of the forum “Understanding China and Communicating with the World” is set at the right time, Ding said.

Japanese-related disciplines are faced with opportunities and challenges in the new era, Ding said, adding that he believes experts in the Japanese field will nurture more talents with patriotism, international vision, social responsibility, critical thinking and cross-cultural ability for the Party and the country. 

Xiu Gang, deputy chairman of the Advisory Committee of Foreign Language and Literature Teaching in Higher Education under the MOE and chairman of its Japanese branch, speaks at the opening ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Xiu Gang, deputy chairman of the Advisory Committee of Foreign Language and Literature Teaching in Higher Education under the MOE and chairman of its Japanese branch, addressed the opening ceremony and spoke highly of the forum in facilitating the development of Japanese education.

Telling Chinese stories well is the mission of Japanese-majored students, he said.

Xiu said this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties between Japan and China and he believes that Japanese-majored talents will make further contributions to the exchanges between the two countries in the years to come.

Based on the current situation of China and the world, the forum conducted in-depth discussions on how to respond to new requirements, grasp novel opportunities and usher in a new pattern for Japanese education in Chinese higher education institutions. 

Focusing on the topics of "what kind of talents we need and how to cultivate such talents in the new era", the forum highlighted “understanding China and telling Chinese stories well” and “improving China's international communication ability and China's discourse power”.

Well-known experts and scholars in China's Japanese education attend the forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Well-known experts and scholars in China's Japanese education were invited to exchange views on the professional construction, talent training, curriculum setting, textbook innovation and teaching design for the Japanese major. 

The forum included three keynote reports, three themed forums, two special reports and three teaching case sharing sessions and attracted nearly 8,000 viewers to the live broadcast.

Attendees of the Eighth National High-end Forum on Teaching Reform and Development of the Japanese Major for Higher Education Institutions gather for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]