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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Liu Hong, NPC deputy and secretary of the Liaoning Normal University Party Committee (Photo provided by respondent)
"Language is a tool for exchanging ideas and a bridge for strengthening mutual understanding," said Liu Hong, a member of the National People's Congress (NPC) and Party Secretary of Liaoning Normal University, at this year's "Two Sessions." She noted that as demand for Chinese language learning steadily grows globally, China has a responsibility to provide better support for people around the world in learning Chinese. Drawing on her own teaching experience, she also shared her thoughts on promoting Sino-Russian exchanges and how to embrace the era of artificial intelligence.
Responding to the global demand for Chinese language learning
Deputy Liu Hong reported that Chinese is currently included in the national education curriculum of 85 countries, and the number of people studying it abroad exceeds 30 million. More and more countries are incorporating Chinese into school curricula, moving from "interest-based learning" to "systematic education." Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms, as important channels for Chinese-foreign language and cultural exchange, play an active role in teaching Chinese and introducing people from different countries to Chinese culture.
In the face of this trend, Liu Hong emphasized that international Chinese language education is no longer simply language teaching, but a comprehensive discipline that integrates linguistics, pedagogy, intercultural communication, and many other fields. "We need to train more professionals who understand not only Chinese language teaching but also the cultures of partner countries, so we can help these countries better develop Chinese language teaching." To this end, she proposed establishing international Chinese language education as a separate discipline to ensure better human resource support for the nearly 500 Confucius Institutes and thousands of Chinese language centers abroad.
Support for the training of overseas Chinese language teachers
Liu Hong places particular emphasis on the shortage of teaching staff. She explained that overseas teachers and volunteers are a vital force supporting Chinese language teaching worldwide. They work in over 150 countries and regions, interacting directly with local communities and often facing challenges such as cross-cultural adaptation.
"Many developing countries face challenges related to the insufficient professionalism of teachers. We need to help these countries train local Chinese language teachers." Liu Hong proposed establishing a special fund to finance the training of foreign Chinese language teachers in China, their participation in professional development programs, and to support cooperation between Chinese and foreign universities in establishing training centers directly in these countries. She also proposed providing better guarantees for volunteer teachers working abroad, including improved insurance systems, medical care, and employment support upon their return home, so that more talented young people would be willing to dedicate themselves to this work of promoting mutual understanding between China and other countries.
Promoting Chinese-Russian exchanges and cooperation in the field of education
2026 and 2027 have been declared Cross-Years of Education between China and Russia. Liu Hong, Party Secretary of Liaoning Normal University, outlined a series of events planned by the university as part of the Cross-Years of Education.
The University will continue to host the Northeast Asian Forum on High-Level Teacher Education and invite renowned experts and scholars from Moscow State University, Kazan University, and other Russian universities to discuss the development of teacher education in the context of artificial intelligence.
In addition, from June 6th to 7th, during the days surrounding Pushkin Day, the university will hold the All-China Academic Symposium on Russian Language and Culture, inviting Chinese and Russian experts and scholars to explore new developments in language and culture in depth.
In addition, with the support of the Dalian branch of the Chinese Association of Alumni of European and American Universities, various events will be organized, such as outings, seminars, and Chinese language competitions, with the participation of students returning from Russia, Russian teachers working in Dalian, and international students studying at Dalian universities.
Learning Foreign Languages in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Speaking about the impact of artificial intelligence on foreign language learning, Liu Hong takes a rational approach. "There's a perception that AI will completely replace translators. I believe this is both true and false." She believes that AI is indeed capable of solving basic translation problems, but the era of human-machine collaboration in translation has arrived: a machine performs rough drafts, while humans perform higher-level proofreading and editing. "When it comes to issues of literature, ethics, and emotions that can be encountered during translation, machines are still inferior to humans in flexibility and emotionality."
Liu Hong points out that AI is the best tool for learning foreign languages. In terms of teaching, teachers can use AI to implement personalized learning; in terms of learning, students can complete customized listening and speaking exercises, which increases efficiency. "AI helps save more time, allowing our students, in addition to learning the language itself, to gain more regional and cultural knowledge. AI helps us better classify and assimilate this knowledge. This contributes to the development of highly qualified interdisciplinary linguists."
"There's no need to fear AI; we should embrace it," Liu Hong emphasizes. Actively using AI in learning and teaching can further enhance the effectiveness of foreign language learning, including Russian. She hopes that through concerted efforts from all sides, more friends abroad will be able to learn about China through learning Chinese, and that Chinese culture and world civilizations will coexist through mutual exchange and learning.
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