President Xi Jinping has called on young sinologists worldwide to act as cultural ambassadors, emphasizing their role in fostering mutual understanding between China and the global community. The message came in a written reply to 61 scholars from 51 countries attending the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference, which kicks off this Friday in Beijing.
"You serve as vital bridges connecting civilizations," Xi stated, acknowledging the scholars' contributions to cross-cultural dialogue. The three-day conference arrives amid growing international interest in Chinese language studies, with participation rates increasing 18% year-on-year since 2023.
The event follows China's recent cultural diplomacy initiatives, including December 2023's Liangzhu Forum in Zhejiang Province where sinologists explored ancient Chinese civilization. Analysts note the 2025 conference's expanded focus on youth engagement reflects Beijing's long-term strategy for people-to-people exchanges.
With over 190 million Chinese language learners globally as of 2025, according to Ministry of Education data, the conference will address contemporary challenges in linguistic education and digital cultural preservation.
