Intl forum discusses Sinology, Chinese language

As the special activity to commemorate the 11th UN Chinese Language Day, Beijing Language and Culture University hosted the International Humanities Forum titled "Spreading of Sinology and Chinese Language During the Epidemic" on April 19. Experts, scholars and foreign students from 35 countries attended the forum online. The event also launched the International Cangjie Plan, an online platform sharing Chinese culture with the world.

Liu Li, president of Beijing Language and Culture University, said the Cangjie Plan aims to create an information-sharing platform for Sinologists and Chinese learners. It will cover the fields of tourism, museums, movies, books and a special catalogue for foreigners to tell their stories of China and Chinese culture.

"We can network across the world with overlapping language competencies. We have to think in terms of networks, of cross-country ties, of mutual understanding across boundaries," said Martin Albrow, honorary vice-president of the British Sociological Association. "I'm sure Cangjie program is going to be a major contribution to that goal."

Deanna Gao, China Film Festival in Paris founder and chairwoman, suggested further cooperation between Chinese and foreign video sites – to introduce Chinese culture with short video programs during social distancing.

According to José Augusto Salazar, director of the Confucius Institute of Universidad San Francisco of Quito in Ecuador, students have been passionate about learning Chinese. He thinks more universities and high schools need to open Chinese language courses and create more talent for future cooperation between China and South America.

This forum encourages dialogue and mutual learning between China and other countries, inviting more people to study Chinese language and culture.