Experts call for nurturing of language professionals

Experts have called for the nurturing of special language talents, to facilitate the country's strategic plan to develop the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

More than 50 language experts and education officials gathered at Beijing Foreign Studies University on Saturday for China's first special language strategic development forum, where they discussed the formation of a special language think tank and the training of more language professionals.

"Special language development and talent training is facing opportunities and challenges at the same time as China is advocating and participating in the 'one belt and one road' construction," said Peng Long, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University.

According to studies conducted by BFSU researchers, due to their less developed economies and a shortage of interpreters, some nearby countries and regions lack an understanding of China. Their residents have to access Chinese news through a commonly used language, such as English, and some information is lost in translation.

Major countries value special language development. Harvard University in the United States has classes in more than 90 languages and the University of Moscow offers more than 120.

BFSU has 60 language programs and the president looks to increase that to 90 languages by 2020.

The development of special languages is important for China to communicate well with the world, said Sun Xiaomeng, dean of the Asian and African studies school at BFSU.