On the morning of 13 December 2021, the launching ceremony of International Chinese Language Education Week 2021 (2021 ICLEW) with the theme of “Closer Partnership, Better Future” was successfully held at Wutong Auditorium in Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). The event was co-hosted by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) of the Ministry of Education (MoE) of the People’s Republic of China, the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching (ISCLT) and Chinese Plus, and undertaken by BLCU. Mr. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Chairman of the State Language Committee, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Dr. Hao Ping, President of Peking University, Dr. Borhy László, Rector of Eötvös Loránd University of Hungary, Dr. Vivia Fowler, President of Wesleyan College of the United States, Dr. Simon Biggs, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Western Australia, Dr. Rossana Valéria de Souza e Silva, Executive Director of International Cooperation Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB), Dr. Isabel Cervera, Director of the Cervantes Institute of Beijing, Dr. Nama Didier Dieudonne, National Pedagogic Inspector of Chinese Language of the Ministry of Secondary Education of Cameroon, Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand, attended and addressed the launching ceremony online and offline.

Mr. Tian Xuejun pointed out that international Chinese language education is an important part of international educational exchanges and cooperation, a public language product provided for the world by China, and a crucial platform for China to integrate into the world and for the world to understand China. As the mother tongue country, we are duty-bound to carry out international Chinese language education and offer assistance to people all around the world in learning Chinese. In the field of international Chinese language education, we will strengthen the ranks of native Chinese language teachers, optimise international Chinese teaching resources and services, expand new partnership, and enhance exchanges and communications among the youths. In the post-pandemic era, we will promote reform, innovation, quality and efficiency of international Chinese language education, build a more open, inclusive and standardised education pattern, thus making due contribution to the building of a better world.

Mr. Chen Dehai stated that language is an important carrier for cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations, and a significant bridge for stronger people-to-people bonds among countries. Sharing a natural bond of affinity and common interests and being closely connected with China, ASEAN is one of the major regions for promoting international Chinese language education. Facing the impact of COVID-19, along with CLEC of MoE of China, China Education Association for International Exchange and relevant universities and institutions, ACC has successively co-organised multiple events oriented towards education administrators, native Chinese language teachers, and vocational school teachers from ASEAN countries, including workshops on capacity building, upskilling training, Mandarin immersion courses, and vocational education forums, which all have received a sound social effect. In the Joint Statement of the Special Summit Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, leaders of both sides have reached a series of significant common understandings on the development of ASEAN-China relations in the future. They reaffirmed to continue to enhance collaboration in education as well as other fields and give full play to the significant role of ACC in promoting socio-cultural and people-to-people exchanges since its establishment 10 years ago. ACC is ready to work together with all parties to fully implement the important consensus reached by leaders of both sides, actively promote educational exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China, and make unremitting efforts to deepen ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Dr. Ma Jianfei, Director-General of CLEC, sincerely welcomed people from all over the world to actively participate in the development of international Chinese language education and contribute wisdom and strength to promote exchanges of language and culture as well as people-to-people bonds.

At the launching ceremony, CLEC signed MoCs and Programme Agreements respectively with ACC, the Ministry of Education and Sports of Uganda, GCUB, and other universities and organisations, issued policy documents such as Reference Frame for Teaching Chinese Culture and National Conditions in International Chinese Language Education, and Action Plan of Online Education on International Chinese Language (2021-2025). A number of Chinese Language Learning Testing Centres, Online Chinese Language Classrooms, CLEC Smart Classrooms, Chinese Language Workshops were also formally established. Chinese and foreign guests joined hands on stage to launch the 2021 ICLEW.

With the theme of “Closer Partnership, Better Future”, the 2021 ICLEW will hold about 40 events both online and offline, so as to showcase achievements, share experiences, strengthen collaboration and plan for the future, and promote the sustainable and high-quality development of international Chinese language education.