The First Belt and Road International Conference for Speech, Language and Hearing was held in Beijing from Oct 25 to 27, with the theme of "connectivity, intercommunication and integration".

Experts and scholars from over 30 countries and regions across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Oceania, specializing in audiology, speech pathology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence and the humanities and arts, gathered at Beijing Language and Culture University for the event.

Hosted by Beijing Language and Culture University along with the Speech Rehabilitation Committee of the China Association of Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, the conference aimed to deepen international cooperation in the field of hearing and speech rehabilitation among countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and to support the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The opening ceremony of the conference was held at the Wutong Auditorium of Beijing Language and Culture University on Oct 25. At the ceremony, Duan Peng, the conference chair and president of Beijing Language and Culture University stated, "We hope that by establishing this high-end, open, and inclusive academic exchange platform, we can promote the widespread dissemination and in-depth exchange of new ideas, technologies, and achievements in the field of hearing and speech rehabilitation. This will contribute wisdom and strength to the development of hearing and speech rehabilitation efforts in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of their people."

Liu Lirong, the conference co-chair and former president of the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders, emphasized that all of humanity should have the right to communicate. "As professionals in the fields of human communication, communication sciences, and communication disorders, it is our responsibility to help people overcome barriers, build bridges, and improve the quality of life for special populations," she said.

She advocated for sharing current knowledge, technological advancements, and scientific discoveries to enhance common understanding of the world and become "change-makers, dreamers, and rainmakers".

The conference featured nine breakout sessions, two special exchange sessions, and two pre-conference workshops. It focused on various themes such as rehabilitation for autism spectrum disorder, treatment and intervention for language disorders, and swallowing and voice disorders. Academic exchanges were conducted through keynote presentations, roundtable discussions and workshops.

During the conference, a cultural show was staged on Saturday night at the Wutong Auditorium of Beijing Language and Culture University. Artists and performance groups from home and abroad, along with the university's art troupes, presented a spectacular audiovisual feast for the audience. The performance highlighted the theme of care, calling for inclusion, understanding and compassion for special and vulnerable groups.