New technologies should be leveraged to make Chinese an open public cultural resource, promote two-way interaction and emotional resonance, and foster sincere appreciation among various cultures, so that the language can truly become a bridge to connect hearts and promote mutual understanding, experts from home and abroad said.

They made the remarks at the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference, held from Friday to Sunday in Beijing, where government officials, educators and diplomats gathered to discuss the future of Chinese language education in an era shaped by innovation and artificial intelligence.

Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China remains steadfast in widening high-standard opening-up, which will create more opportunities for global development and fuel the growing demand for learning the Chinese language and understanding China in the international community.

He proposed building smart campuses and classrooms, and enhancing the co-development and sharing of digital Chinese language resources to make learning the language more convenient and efficient.

Moreover, more efforts should be made to promote the integration of international Chinese language education with vocational and professional training, he said.

He called for more language partnership schools between Chinese and foreign primary and secondary schools, and hosting the "Chinese Bridge" language competitions, to facilitate overseas Chinese learners to study in China and enhance mutual understanding.

Khilola Umarova, deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, emphasized that Chinese serves as a crucial tool in strengthening Uzbekistan-China relations. "Chinese is not only a communication tool but also a cornerstone for enhancing mutual understanding and expanding economic, cultural and educational cooperation between the two peoples," she said.

Eduardo Frei, former president of Chile, said even in an era of rapid technological advancement and instant machine translation, face-to-face communication remains the solid bond that sustains international relations. He said a growing number of Chilean youth are learning Chinese and studying in China, reflecting the depth of bilateral ties that now span multiple fields.

"China has become our strategic partner, and our cooperation extends beyond trade and education to include language as a key link," he added.

Narumon Pinyosinwat, Thailand's minister for education, said more than 28,000 Chinese students are studying in her country, while over 30,000 Thai students are pursuing education in China.

She described Chinese language as an indispensable bridge to economic, technological and academic cooperation with China.

"For Thai learners, Chinese is not just a foreign language but a bridge connecting two major civilizations with intertwined histories and shared aspirations for peace and prosperity," she said, outlining plans to expand Chinese programs across basic, vocational and higher education to cultivate a new generation of culturally literate citizens.

Khaled Nazmy, Egyptian ambassador to China, said language differences once hindered human exchange and international cooperation, but the digital revolution and the rise of AI mark a significant turning point in human history.

He explained that AI has evolved beyond translation to become a reliable tool for rapid meaning transfer.

Comparing language to a towering tree rooted in cultural soil, he highlighted its role in carrying national heritage, spreading values and knowledge and recording historical and scientific achievements.

Lin Shangli, president of Renmin University of China, said that in today's era of flourishing digital civilization, Chinese is participating in and promoting the construction and integration of the global knowledge system with unprecedented breadth and depth.

The conference was organized by China's Ministry of Education and co-hosted by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, the Chinese International Education Foundation, and the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn