Zeng Qingkai, Editor-in-Chief of 21st Century, China Daily, delivered a speech.
In the opening ceremony, Zeng Qingkai, Editor-in-Chief of 21st Century, China Daily, said the theme of the forum was in line with the idea of promoting interconnectedness among Belt and Road partner countries. He made three key proposals on improving language and cultural exchanges as part of the Belt and Road Initiative: to strengthen the cultivation of language talent to lay a solid foundation for language connectivity; to seize the opportunities of the digital age to innovate with collaboration and exchange models; and to enhance mutual understanding among young people to consolidate the power of cultural exchange and mutual learning.
Keynote speakers (Clockwise from top left): Prof. Li Yuming from Beijing Language and Culture University, Daniela Cuccurullo from TESOL Italy, Prof. Cheng Aimin from China Association for International Education, Prof. George Xinsheng Zhang from Richmond American University London, Prof. Lixian Jin from International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies and Lucia Rodrigues Alves from BRAZ-TESOL.
Six experts and scholars from China, Brazil, Italy and the United Kingdom delivered keynote speeches on international language and culture, and on deepening language education collaboration and improving cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. Representatives of members of the Belt and Road Languages and Cultures Network, as well as experts, scholars and teachers of language and in cultural fields from China and overseas took part in the forum online.