To fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and solidly advance the high-quality development of education, the School of Foreign Studies at the Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE) marked a significant milestone by hosting both the 10th Anniversary Forum on Business English Linguistics and the 10th International Symposium on Business English Linguistics from October 13-15, 2023. Co-organized with the Business English Committee of China Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Enterprises Association, the event brought together leading scholars from China and abroad to explore the evolving landscape of business English in the AI era.
Opening Ceremony: Setting the Stage for Innovation
The opening ceremony featured addresses from distinguished leaders who emphasized the importance of business English research in China's economic modernization:
Zhu Lingyun, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC CUFE Committee and Vice President of CUFE, welcomed international participants and highlighted the university's commitment to international education and talent cultivation. She noted how the School of Foreign Studies has developed into a platform for cultivating patriotic professionals with global perspectives to serve national strategies.
Zheng Liang, Vice President of China Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Enterprises Association, emphasized that business English research should integrate closely with China's economic modernization, fostering academic cooperation that showcases research with Chinese characteristics and contemporary relevance.
Wang Lifei, President of the Business English Committee of China Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Enterprises Association, acknowledged the profound impact of AI on business language development and expressed confidence that the symposium outcomes would better serve China's economic modernization and international opening-up.
Huang Zhenhua, Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at CUFE, expressed sincere gratitude to the co-organizing institutions and sister universities for their support, warmly welcomed the domestic and international scholars, and looked forward to the symposium's positive contribution to China's economic modernization.
The opening ceremony was presided over byHuang Zhenhua, Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at CUFE.
Plenary Sessions: Global Perspectives on Business English
The plenary sessions brought together several distinguished scholars from China and abroad to address frontier topics in business English linguistics:
Featured Plenary Speakers:
Professor Wang Lifeiopened the plenary discussions by examining the connotational characteristics and distinctive features of Chinese economic discourse, proposing strategies for enhancing China's discourse power in international contexts.
Professor Zhong Weihe(City University of Macau) delivered a comprehensive presentation on “Business English Professional Teacher Competency Development in the AI Era,” introducing the historical evolution of the business English discipline, its development goals, and talent cultivation practices. He analyzed contemporary requirements for textbook development and faculty capacity growth against the backdrop of artificial intelligence.
Other domestic and international experts, includingProfessor Lyn M. Van Swolfrom University of Wisconsin-Madison,Professor Ran Yongpingfrom Guangdong University of Foreign Studies,Professor Eric Friginalfrom The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,Professor Franca Poppifrom University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,Associate Professor Feng Dezhengfrom The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,Associate Professor Esterina Nervinofrom City University of Hong Kong, andAssociate Professor Zhu Yunxiafrom The University of Queensland, delivered speeches on frontier topics in business linguistics.
The plenary sessions were presided over byWang Shanshan(Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of the School of Foreign Studies at CUFE) andZhang Runhan(Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at CUFE).
Keynote Sessions: Diverse Research Frontiers
The two-day keynote sessions featured comprehensive presentations from leading scholars across multiple institutions:
Distinguished Keynote Speakers:
Professor Liu Ping(Guangdong University of Foreign Studies)
Professor Zhang Weilei(Shanghai University of International Business and Economics)
Professor Zhang Runhan(Central University of Finance and Economics)
Professor Zhang Jiarui(Southwestern University of Finance and Economics)
Professor Cao Dechun(North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power)
Professor Cao Jin(Northwest Normal University)
Professor Li Lin(University of International Business and Economics)
Professor Ai Bin(Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)
Professor Zhang Huiyu(Zhejiang University)
Associate Professor Yuan Qi(Zhongnan University of Economics and Law)
Associate Professor Shao Shanshan(Central University of Finance and Economics)
These sessions were expertly chaired byProfessor Hu Wenfei(Dean, School of Business English, Sichuan International Studies University),Wang Hongliang(Vice Dean, School of Foreign Studies, CUFE),Wang Weichao(Vice Dean, School of English for International Business, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies), andShao Shanshan(School of Foreign Studies, CUFE).
Parallel Sessions: Focused Academic Exchange
Three parallel sessions provided platforms for in-depth academic discussions on specialized topics:
1.International Communication and Translationof economic thought and policy
2.Language Servicessupporting China's high-quality economic development
3.Corporate Communicationincluding overseas image building and brand discourse
4.Business English Educationencompassing discipline construction and innovative teaching models
5.Rural Language Revitalizationin the context of economic development
These sessions facilitated meaningful exchanges among faculty, graduate students, and industry professionals, fostering collaborative research opportunities.
The parallel sessions were presided over byProfessor Fan Li, Professor Huang Jian, andAssociate Professor Huo Shengyafrom the School of Foreign Studies at CUFE.
Looking Forward: Academic Impact and Future Directions
Feng Junbo, Party Secretary of CUFE's School of Foreign Studies, delivered the closing address, emphasizing the symposium's role in implementing educational development strategies and contributing to China's goal of becoming a leading education nation.
The symposium successfully demonstrated the maturation of business English linguistics as a discipline while addressing contemporary challenges posed by artificial intelligence and globalization. Participants engaged with practical issues in business English development, sharing research findings that contribute to effective international communication and China's economic narrative.
Conclusion
The 10th International Symposium on Business English Linguistics represented a significant achievement in academic collaboration and scholarly exchange. By bringing together international and domestic experts, the event advanced understanding of business English linguistics while addressing real-world applications in China's economic modernization process.
The School of Foreign Studies at CUFE continues to strengthen its distinctive position in financial translation studies and business English education, contributing to high-level talent cultivation and international academic cooperation. This symposium marks not just a celebration of past achievements but a foundation for future innovation in business English linguistics research and education.
