The Second China-GCC Language and Culture Forum Photo: Courtesy of CLEC

In a groundbreaking move, China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) unveiled the inaugural collection of translated classic Chinese-Arabic and Arabic-Chinese literary works on Thursday. 

The event signifies a pivotal stride forward in literary exchange within the China-GCC cooperation, as it is an obvious realization of Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal at the China-GCC Summit in 2022, highlighting the need for a shared repository of cultural exchange.

The unveiled classics encompass a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, presenting Chinese masterpieces such as the Book of Songs and 15 Lectures on the Silk Road Civilization, alongside a Saudi Arabian classic, Mother Zubeida.

 This eclectic selection of 13 works premiered at the well-attended World Chinese Language Conference held in Beijing on Thursday. Beyond emphasizing collaboration between China and Gulf states, and the release of literary works, the three-day conference is expected to witness the participation of around 2,000 individuals from over 160 countries, including numerous sinologists and scholars in education sharing their perspectives on China and its global role.

Discernible enthusiasm

One year ago on December 9, 2022, President Xi attended the China-GCC Summit and delivered a keynote speech titled Building on Past Achievements and Jointly Creating a Brighter Future of China-GCC Relations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The vision includes the provision of 3,000 "Chinese Bridge" summer/winter camp opportunities, the establishment of a China-GCC language and culture forum, and the introduction of a bilingual library for people-to-people cultural exchanges and mutual learning, of which Sunday's classics are among the library's first.  

Liu Xinlu, Dean of the School of Arabic Studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University and a key contributor to the library project, revealed to the Global Times that over the next three to five years, an additional 50 works are slated to enrich this literary repository. 

This ambitious endeavor is poised to construct a broader platform facilitating enhanced exchanges between China and the Arab world. Liu noted that presently, there is a discernible enthusiasm among the youth in Arab nations, especially those in Gulf countries, to learn the Chinese language. 

And what's more, "the perspectives toward China are undergoing a shift," he said. "Previously, Arab countries looked at China from political and economic perspectives. However, in recent years, people have come to believe that China and Arab nations, as two great civilizations, need to join hands together to forge ahead toward higher common goals from all perspectives." 

Recent public data has revealed in December that a whopping 85 countries around the world have officially incorporated Chinese into their national education systems. Notably, Saudi Arabia has taken to this global trend by not only embracing Chinese as a second official foreign language but also by weaving it into the country's school curriculum. In a stand-out move, all secondary schools in Saudi Arabia are now required to dedicate the fourth teaching period on Sundays and Mondays exclusively to the teaching of the Chinese language. 

"In December 2022, the Saudi and Chinese education ministries signed an agreement to provide Chinese language learning material to Saudi Arabia, where decisions were also made that Chinese instructors will teach the language in Saudi schools," Salim Al Anazy, Deputy Minister Assistant of Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia told the Global Times on Thursday. "And I'm sure the middle school students like learning Chinese. We value the language as we'd like to keep our friendship with China."

Boost folk exchanges

In the bustling assembly on Thursday, the China National Convention Center played host not only to the unveiling of exciting new developments in China-GCC literature, but also witnessed a convergence of Chinese language enthusiasts and sinologists eager to share their insights on education and China's modern global interactions.

With a view to promoting the high-quality development of international Chinese language education, the World Chinese Language Conference, hosted by China's Ministry of Education and co-organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and other institutions, is expected to intensify international understanding under the theme of "Chinese for the World, Openness into the Future." 

In Florence, Italy, the year 2023 saw the establishment of a new Chinese Proficiency Test site at the China-Italy Cultural Education and Exchange Research Center (CRID). 

Maria Omodeo, Chairperson of the Chinese Language Learning and Testing Center at CRID shared with Global Times that, in addition to Confucius Institutes scattered across Europe, this newly minted testing site is poised to attract students from various European countries.

"Every year, we welcome thousands of students eager to delve into the intricacies of the Chinese language. Our hope is that they can carve out a brighter future for themselves, particularly in fostering people-to-people exchanges between China and Italy, Omodeo said, adding that the majority of their students are youthful souls mainly aged 20 and below.

Renowned British sinologist Robert L. Chard shared his vision for a more open and increasingly international world. He advocates for the abandonment of suspicion while in favor of enhanced understanding and harmony.

Speaking to the Global Times, Chard expressed his belief that as sinologists, their mission is to diligently nurture the next generation of scholars devoted to Chinese studies. He emphasized the importance of facilitating opportunities for more people to truly experience life in China.

"I hope for a world that is more open and internationally connected. We should drop suspicions and increase understanding, promoting greater harmony. As sinologists, we will strive to groom a new generation of scholars and encourage more people to genuinely live in China for a period," remarked Chard.