About 2,000 participants from more than 160 countries and regions are set to participate in the World Chinese Language Conference 2024 to be held in Beijing on Friday. Scholars and experts said they have high expectations for the event as they look forward to sharing experiences and the best practices gained at various Confucius Institutes and acquiring more resources in Chinese teaching while beefing up the extent of localized teaching forces.

With the theme of "Interconnection, Integration, Inheritance, Innovation," the 2024 conference aims to promote the sustained and vigorous development of international Chinese language education and support relevant countries and regions in ­carrying out Chinese language teaching.

The event is also expected to enhance language and cultural exchanges and educational cooperation between China and foreign countries, and deepen exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.

Scholars and experts have expressed their expectations for the conference. 

Clay Anderson Nunes Chagas, president of the State University of Para in North Brazil, told the Global Times on Wednesday that he looks forward to exchanging experiences with Confucius Institutes from all over the world at the conference, demonstrating the work results of the Confucius Institute in Belem in the Amazon region of Brazil, and the sincere cooperation the institute has carried out with Shandong Normal University.

The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute.

In the upcoming the conference, a seminar on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Confucius Institutes, the World Language Education Forum and other featured events will be hosted. 

Breakout sessions will focus on the future development of Confucius Institutes, the application of standards in international Chinese language education and approaches in the training of local teachers.

Qiao Jianzhen, director of the Confucius Classroom at the Fluminense Federal University in Brazil, told the Global Times that against the backdrop of today's world of global multi-polarization and ever-changing landscape, it is expected that international Chinese education can play a role as a bridge.

"International Chinese education is expected to play a unique role in promoting people-to-people connectivity, exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and contribute to world peace and global sustainable development," Qiao said. 

She said that the 2024 World Chinese Language Conference is expected to be more focused, bring together various forces for global Chinese teaching amid a new situation, and make contributions to building a community of shared future for mankind in the era of globalization.

The delegates will also discuss teaching materials and teaching methodologies.

With new technologies being applied to language learning, topics including digital and intelligent transformation of language education will be covered. 

Experts will exchange insights in the international application and service of Chinese language, the coordinated development of Chinese language education and vocational education, and language education and mutual learning among civilizations. 

These sessions aim to bring together wisdom and strength from both domestic and foreign countries to jointly promote the innovative development of Confucius Institutes and careers in international Chinese language education. 

"This conference provides a unique platform for global scholars and professionals to exchange knowledge and promote meaningful collaboration. We hope that this conference will strengthen international ties and make a lasting contribution to knowledge and culture," Tioe Se Tin, vice rector of Maranatha Christian University in Indonesia, told the Global Times. 

The Four Years of Collaboration in Digital and Intelligent Innovation, United Efforts for a Shared Future - Chinese Plus Work Report will also be released at the conference, according to organizers of the World Chinese Language Conference.