Language schools help overseas maintain their identity

A Chinese language-based education is a fundamental element allowing Chinese people living abroad to maintain their national identity, the director of an office for overseas Chinese affairs said Saturday.

A Chinese language-based education also provides a spiritual link between overseas Chinese and their ancestral land, said Li Haifeng, director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (OCAO), at a ceremony held Saturday to mark the inauguration of the new semester at the new campus of the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College (CLCC) under the OCAO.

The official addressed the opening ceremony, which was attended by Luo Haocai, former vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

In his speech, Li spoke highly of the role of Chinese language-based schooling, saying that Chinese people living abroad refer to it as a "Root-keeping Project" or "Hope Project."

The OCAO has long regarded Chinese language-based schooling as basic and strategic work. It has an increased investment in the sector and taken many practical steps in textbook research and development, teacher training and the education of Chinese youth living overseas, and it has also given various kinds of assistance to Chinese language schools abroad, according to the official.

Zhou Feng, president of the CLCC, also spoke at the ceremony. He stressed that the CLCC is willing to cooperate with Chinese language-based educational institutions in all foreign countries and regions.

According to Zhou, in 2010, the college invested over 500 million yuan (79.3 million U.S. dollars) to build the new campus, which covers 14.6 hectares and has a floor space of 68,353 square meters. It is designed to accommodate 2,000 students, he said.