Chongqing - Dong Hongchuan was elected as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) for the first time in this year of 2023. The first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee is set to begin on March 4. Dong has already made the trip to Beijing in order to make preparations for better performance of his duties as a member.

As a CPPCC National Committee member for the educational sector, as well as the president of Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), Dong's proposals mainly focus on topics including improving the language service capabilities of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, cultivating interdisciplinary, international communication talents and strengthening higher foreign language education in the west to promote the construction of inland opening-up highlands. He has been working on these issues for quite a long time, doing onsite research, holding seminars, and seeking cooperation at home and abroad.

Opportunities under the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle

As the president of Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), Dong Hongchuan proposed that the mission of a university is to train talents for the country. The construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle is not only the "No. 1 project" of Chongqing but also a major national and regional strategy. It is closely integrated with the construction of inland opening-up highlands. As a member of the circle, SISU not only witnesses the historical moment but also faces a rare opportunity provided by such a strategy.

"As an international studies university, SISU has always regarded the training of foreign-related talents as one of its educational goals; SISU has the confidence in providing the needed talents in the fields of regional studies, international communication, foreign-related business and trade, and foreign legal systems," Dong said. He believed SISU was capable of shouldering this task and helping promote the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.

Dong also suggested that the language service capabilities of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle need to be improved by strengthening policy guarantees and promoting professional construction.

Cultivating interdisciplinary, international communication talents

China will strengthen its international communications capabilities, make international communications more effective, and strive to strengthen China's voice in international affairs to be commensurate with the country's composite national strength and international status. In this context, Dong suggested accelerating the cultivation of interdisciplinary, international communication talents and improving the effectiveness of global communication.

For colleges and universities, Dong believed that assembling a high-level faculty team is of great importance to the cultivation of international communication talents. This requires breaking barriers between departments, universities and government, universities and businesses, and integrating innovative talents in foreign languages, Chinese studies, communication studies and information technology, etc.

"Reforming the traditional training mode and formulating a scientific talent training plan can also help to cultivate interdisciplinary, international communication professionals who are creative and skilled in languages, Chinese studies, communication, and information technology," Dong said, "International communication demands talents with global vision and practical skills, which means we should establish cooperation with governments and media to provide our students with opportunities to get out of the classroom and improve themselves from hands-on learning and real experiences," he added.

Promoting the high-quality development of education

China will continue to prioritize the development of education, build China's self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and rely on talent to pioneer and propel development, according to the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). As a member of the education sector, Dong believed that he should spare no effort to make valuable suggestions for the high-quality development of education.

"The improvement of higher education should start with the fundamental task of education, fostering virtue. Cultivating new successors who keep in mind the utmost interests of the nation, who have the courage to take responsibility and who could aim high and achieve big things," Dong said. Meanwhile, he emphasized that we should try our best to ensure a balanced allocation of educational resources and promote the optimization of the educational structure.

"We need to develop our universities into world-class institutions with Chinese characteristics and cultivate useful talents that meet the needs of the new era," Dong said.