English language education in China is ushering in new opportunities as the country strides into a new era and moves closer to center stage in the global arena, experts at an international conference in Shanghai said on Friday.

With China expanding and deepening its opening-up policy, the country has been put under an international spotlight like never before, experts said at the 2018 TESOL International Association China Assembly.

The three-day conference, which began on Friday morning, has gathered more than 1,800 school English teachers and leading experts in English teaching from home and abroad.

The meeting — jointly hosted by the TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) International Association, an organization based in the United States that is committed to advancing excellence in English language teaching, China Daily and Shanghai International Studies University — aims to strengthen dialogue and exchanges between China and the world in English education.

"The demand for foreign language skills, especially English skills, is surging greatly," said Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, while addressing the opening of the assembly.

"The new era has led to an exciting period of historical opportunities for English education.

"We need to focus on the new missions and requirements of the new era, making new endeavors and proposals for the future development of English education in China," he added.

"China's English education in the new era requires us to undertake new responsibilities with an emphasis on guiding the young to be dedicated to the achievement of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the major initiative of 'creating a common community with a shared future for mankind'," Zhou said, adding that the nation's rise relies on education, with teachers being the cornerstone.