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1 Introduction

This section introduces the challenges and transformation demands faced by foreign language education against the backdrop of global upheaval and China’s strategic transition. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee emphasized the development of education, technology, and talent, positioning foreign language education as a key component of the national strategic framework. Technological iteration, global discourse competition, and the dissolution of disciplinary barriers present new requirements for foreign language education. In this context, the 2025 Academic Annual Conference of the Foreign Language Education Research Branch of the China Association of Higher Education was held in Guangzhou, themed "Innovation and Practice in Foreign Language Education Serving National Major Strategies." The conference focused on topics such as foreign language teaching materials, integration of artificial intelligence, and educational reform, aiming to drive innovation in foreign language education and cultivate interdisciplinary talent. The event invited experts and scholars to deliver speeches, featuring seven keynote reports and ten thematic presentations, with over 410 attendees. This article summarizes the conference’s significance and insights.

2 Keynote Reports

This section highlights the new mission, positioning, and contributions of foreign language education in serving national major strategies. Professor Jia Wenjian underscored the importance of innovative development in foreign language education for building a strong educational system, advocating for a shift from cross-cultural communication to fostering global competence, and sharing Beijing Foreign Studies University’s practices in cultivating global governance talent. Professor Yang Jin discussed the cultivation of youth’s international competence in global governance, emphasizing the need for foreign language professionals to possess a sense of a community with a shared future for humanity and cross-cultural capabilities. Deputy Editor-in-Chief Liu Yunyun explored the cultivation of in-depth communication skills among foreign language professionals from a cross-cultural perspective, highlighting their role in international communication. Professor Yan Xiangbin proposed driving high-quality development in foreign language education through interdisciplinary integration, constructing a "foreign language +" interdisciplinary talent cultivation system. Professor Luo Lin examined a new paradigm for the collaborative development of foreign language disciplines and area studies, guiding the transformation and upgrading of foreign language disciplines. Dr. Liu Yaxiao and Professor Jin Hui respectively discussed the application of artificial intelligence in foreign language education, emphasizing the potential of intelligent teaching and AI technologies in the era of large-scale models.

3 Thematic Presentations

This section outlines five thematic presentations from the 2025 Academic Annual Conference, featuring 20 experts and scholars who shared insights and experiences on topics including foreign language teaching materials and resource development aligned with national strategies, the integration of AI and foreign language education, interdisciplinary approaches to cultivating composite talent, implementing the "Three Advances" concept to innovate foreign language education pathways, and enhancing teachers’ digital literacy to improve international communication efficacy. Presenters reached consensus on core issues, offering rich academic resources and practical insights. Key discussions included: 1) Aligning foreign language teaching materials with national strategies, such as internationally oriented content development and output-driven methodologies; 2) Exploring pathways for AI integration in foreign language education, including technology-enhanced teaching and smart teaching materials; 3) Strategies for fostering interdisciplinary talent, such as "STEM empowerment" and "foreign language + law" models; 4) Innovative approaches to foreign language education, including knowledge transformation logic and the value of humanities education; 5) Enhancing foreign language teachers’ digital literacy and international communication effectiveness through role transformation and smart teaching innovations.

4 Conference Significance

This section highlights three key significances of the conference on "Innovation and Practice in Foreign Language Education Serving National Major Strategies." First, the conference responded to national strategies by promoting reform and high-quality development in foreign language education. Second, it aimed to lead innovation in foreign language education, cultivating a new generation of international communication talent to address technological challenges. Third, the conference sought to outline a blueprint for the advancement of foreign language education, striving to establish a first-class academic branch and demonstrating its contemporary value. The event reflected the mission of foreign language education in serving national strategies and driving educational innovation, playing a crucial role in enhancing China’s global influence in foreign language education.