The School of European Languages and Cultures at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) held a grand ceremony marking its 70th anniversary on Sept 21.

Wang Dinghua (6th L), secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, meets with diplomatic envoys to China from various countries. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

During his meeting with a number of diplomatic envoys to China, Wang Dinghua, secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, highlighted the significant contributions the school has made to producing talents and promoting Sino-European friendly exchanges since its establishment in the 1950s as the Department of Polish, Czech and Romanian Languages.

He thanked the embassies of various countries for their ongoing support and assistance in the development of the school’s language programs and declared BFSU’s commitment to further bolstering the school's growth.

Zhao Gang, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, speaks at the celebration event. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhao Gang, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, paid tribute to retired faculty members and reflected on his own educational journey under their guidance.

He expressed pride in his 34-year association with the school and encouraged current faculty and students to deepen exchanges between China and foreign countries, enhance friendship among peoples of all nations, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and tell China's story well. 

Andrey Tehov (L), Bulgarian ambassador to China, and Maja Stefanović, Serbian ambassador to China, congratulate the School of European Languages and Cultures on its 70th anniversary. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Andrey Tehov, Bulgarian ambassador to China, and Maja Stefanović, Serbian ambassador to China, spoke highly of BFSU’s role in enhancing cultural exchanges and friendship between their home countries and China and congratulated the school on its 70th anniversary. 

Liu Zengwen (C), former Chinese ambassador to Romania and Lithuania, Zhang Yuan (L), a Xinhua News Agency reporter, and Zhang Shisheng, dean of the School of European Studies at XISU, deliver speeches at the celebration event. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Alumni representatives, including Liu Zengwen, a 1977 graduate of the Romanian language program and former Chinese ambassador to Romania and Lithuania, and Zhang Yuan, a 2011 graduate of the Norwegian language program and Xinhua News Agency reporter, expressed gratitude for the education they had received as well as their commitment to supporting the school's future development. 

Zhang Shisheng, dean of the School of European Studies at Xi'an International Studies University (XISU), shared his unique connections with BFSU and extended best wishes on the 70th anniversary of BFSU’s School of European Languages and Cultures, hoping that BFSU will lead the nation in education of less commonly taught European languages. 

Ke Jing, dean of BFSU’s School of European Languages and Cultures, addresses the audience. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Ke Jing, dean of BFSU’s School of European Languages and Cultures, addressed the audience, saying that though the school’s name has changed several times over the years, its admiration and dedication to the spirit of its predecessors remain constant. 

She emphasized the school’s determination to grasp the future needs for the teaching and research of less commonly taught European languages and to define the development priorities and pathways for each language. 

Alumni, representatives from sister universities, BFSU officials, faculty and students participate in the celebration event. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

More than 400 alumni, representatives from sister universities, BFSU officials, faculty and students participated in the celebration event, with former experts and leaders sending video messages of congratulations.