1 Introduction

This section introduces the new development stage of Tibet Autonomous Region's opening-up under the Belt and Road Initiative, highlights the importance of foreign language proficiency in Tibet's integration into the initiative, and points out the academic gap in research on foreign language capabilities in Tibet. Through questionnaires and interviews, the author conducts a preliminary survey on the demand for key foreign languages in Tibet and proposes targeted planning and talent cultivation recommendations.

2 Research Methodology

This section outlines the methods used to investigate the demand for key foreign languages in Tibet Autonomous Region under the Belt and Road Initiative. The survey targets professionals in Tibet's foreign-related fields, including foreign affairs, international trade, tourism, hospitality, border trade, and port operations. The research tools consist of questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaire, derived from a National Social Science Fund project, comprises four sections covering basic information on foreign-related work, foreign language usage, distribution of foreign contacts, and foreign language proficiency requirements. Semi-structured interviews explore challenges, opportunities, current foreign language capabilities, and needs in Tibet's foreign-related work under the Belt and Road Initiative. Data collection and analysis involved questionnaires (with a 75% valid response rate) and interviews conducted in Chinese or Tibetan, followed by transcription, thematic coding, and analysis.

3 Research Findings

The survey results indicate that English-speaking countries are the most frequent contacts in Tibet's foreign-related work, followed by Nepal and India. English is the most in-demand foreign language, with Nepali and Hindi ranking next. Among English variants, American English is the most commonly used, followed by British English and Nepali English. In multilingual combinations, "English + Nepali" is the most preferred. Interviews reveal that, with the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, Tibet's tourism industry has seen increased demand for foreign languages, particularly English and South Asian non-ubiquitous languages for tour guides. In border trade, a shortage of Nepali speakers hinders efficiency in trade with Nepal. In foreign affairs, English and Nepali are the most frequently used languages, while Hindi, Urdu, and Dzongkha show rising demand. In security, training needs for Hindi and Nepali have increased, alongside demand for interdisciplinary talents such as "English + IT" and "Hindi + IT."

4 Discussion and Recommendations

This section discusses the demand for key foreign languages in Tibet Autonomous Region under the Belt and Road Initiative and proposes corresponding talent cultivation strategies. First, it analyzes the sustained traditional demand for English in Tibet's foreign-related work, alongside emerging needs for "English +" multilingual and interdisciplinary combinations, as well as South Asian English variants. Second, it highlights the rapid growth in demand for Nepali, Hindi, and related multilingual and interdisciplinary combinations in Tibet's border trade, foreign affairs, and security sectors. Additionally, Dzongkha shows significant potential as a reserve language, necessitating proactive talent cultivation. For talent development, it is recommended to prioritize English (South Asian variants), Nepali, Hindi, and Dzongkha as key foreign languages. For English, Tibetan universities should cultivate interdisciplinary talents with "English + professional skills" and emphasize South Asian English variants. For Nepali and Hindi, Tibet University for Nationalities has successfully established relevant programs, and other institutions should follow suit. For Dzongkha, Tibet should leverage the linguistic affinity between Tibetan and Dzongkha to independently cultivate Dzongkha speakers in preparation for future needs.

5 Conclusion

This section emphasizes the importance of language planning in the Belt and Road Initiative and underscores the central role of demand research in foreign language studies and planning. Through questionnaires and interviews, the author conducts a preliminary survey on Tibet's foreign language needs and offers targeted recommendations. These suggestions aim to facilitate Tibet's better integration into the Belt and Road Initiative while showcasing the image of a modernized socialist new Tibet in its opening-up efforts.