Yang Dan, BFSU president and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, delivers a special report at a sub-forum of the World Conference on China Studies - Shanghai Forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Under the theme of “Chinese Civilization and China’s Path — A Global Perspective”, the World Conference on China Studies - Shanghai Forum was held in Shanghai on Nov 24. 

Yang Dan, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) president and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, led a delegation from the university to participate in the forum. 

At the sub-forum “Mutual Learning between Civilizations: Modern Chinese Civilization from a Comparative Perspective”, Yang delivered a special report titled “Language Strategies of Major Powers: Using Language as a Medium to Promote Mutual Learning among Civilizations”.

Emphasizing the pivotal role of language in cross-cultural exchanges, Yang highlighted that in the midst of great changes unseen in a century, language strategy holds crucial practical significance for national security, global development and cultural exchanges. 

Yang stressed the importance of global language governance as an important component of a nation's language strategy. Participating in global language governance, he argued, is not only a meaningful endeavor for China's deeper involvement in global governance, but also a way for China to contribute its wisdom and solutions to global governance, fulfilling its role as a responsible major power. 

Yang shared BFSU's initiatives in supporting global language governance, citing the university's role as the chair of the Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities (GAFSU), which jointly released the Global Language Education Community Initiative with GAFSU members in 2021. 

BFSU has also advocated for the concept of constructing a human language community, and promoting the coexistence, interaction and continuous development of diverse human languages, thereby contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, according to Yang. 

Zhang Chaoyi, director of the BFSU Academy of International Communication of Chinese Culture, chief expert Zhang Xiping, distinguished scholar Ren Dayuan and Vice-Director Xue Weihua gave special presentations at academic salons during sub-forums titled "Progression of Scholarship: Inter-generational Transmission and Paradigm Shifts in China Studies" and "Mutual Learning between Civilizations: Modern Chinese Civilization from a Comparative Perspective", and engaged in fruitful discussions with both Chinese and international counterparts.

Members of the BFSU delegation pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Experts from BFSU’s School of Asian Studies, School of African Studies and School of Arabic Studies also participated in the conference and delivered speeches.

The conference, jointly organized by the State Council Information Office and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, announced the establishment of the World Association for China Studies. The event also saw the presentation of the 2023 Award for Distinguished Contributions to China Studies. 

With four sub-forums, the conference attracted over 400 experts and scholars from nearly 60 countries and regions, fostering a platform for in-depth academic exchanges and collaborations.