Yang Weiguo, deputy secretary of the CPC Beijing International Studies University (BISU) Committee and president of the university, attended the 40th annual conference of China's foreign language universities, held at Tianjin Foreign Studies University from Oct 30 to 31, and delivered a keynote speech.

The conference brought together representatives of foreign language universities from across the country to discuss the missions of foreign language institutions and pathways for the high-quality development of foreign language higher education.

Participants pose for a group photo.

In his keynote speech, Yang outlined BISU's approach and practice regarding the transformation of foreign language education.

He said foreign language universities should promote the shift in foreign language education from language instruction to discourse construction and from a communicative tool to a field of strategic importance, and accelerate the cultivation of versatile talent with a global outlook and professional competence.

Talent cultivation, he noted, remains the primary mission: Universities should equip students with global competence, digital application skills, industry integration capabilities, and practical experience, and build an interdisciplinary education framework.

Yang proposed that member institutions deepen collaboration in discipline development, resource sharing, joint research, and open exchanges, in order to jointly advance the high-quality development of foreign language education.

During the conference, BISU and other member institutions exchanged views on the missions and actions of foreign language universities, the cultivation of versatile talent, and discipline development, and shared their experiences in education reform.