As the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference opens in Beijing on November 14, global attention turns once again to the role of language and culture in fostering mutual understanding. Sinology, rooted in China yet belonging to the world, continues to serve as a vital bridge for dialogue among civilizations.

Visitors explore an exhibition of traditional Chinese family letters in Dublin, Ireland, on the afternoon of November 10 (local time).

On the eve of the conference, an exhibition of traditional Chinese family letters opened in Dublin, Ireland. Fifty-five handwritten letters from China — each carrying heartfelt stories across generations — resonated deeply with locals. Co-organized by RUC's Family Letter Museum and the Confucius Institute at University College Dublin (UCD), the exhibition showcased how cultural artifacts can transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Over the past two decades, Confucius Institutes have played an essential role in global Chinese-language learning. RUC has jointly established 14 Confucius Institutes across 11 countries, sending more than 50 directors and over 500 teachers and volunteers abroad. Designed to meet local needs, these institutes offer university credit-bearing courses, enrichment classes for young learners and practical language training for professionals. Together, they form a comprehensive system that integrates degree education, teacher training and cultural experiences, serving hundreds of thousands of learners worldwide.

Local students are immersed in lively cultural experiences at various Confucius Institutes.

RUC's international Chinese-education programs have also nurtured a diverse pool of young talent. Hernan from UCD, who has studied at both the Confucius Institute and RUC's International Summer School, recently won the global second prize and the "Best Performance Award" at the 24th "Chinese Bridge" competition.

Since launching one of China's earliest master's programs in International Chinese Education, RUC has trained more than a thousand professionals with strong multilingual competencies, intercultural communication skills and the ability to share Chinese culture confidently on the global stage.

Through the "New Sinology Program" initiated in 2012, RUC has contributed to program planning and has cultivated a new generation of international Sinologists. The program offers high-level academic training through joint supervision, field research and scholarly exchanges, helping young scholars gain deeper insight into China's past and present.

In June 2025, the Ninth World Conference on Sinology, co-hosted by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and RUC, officially launched the first postdoctoral program dedicated to Sinology, further strengthening the full-cycle talent-development system for global scholars of China.

With a global vision, RUC continues to build platforms for international dialogue. This year, the "Global Initiative for Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning", launched by RUC, was included in the Action Plan of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting. RUC also released the first publications of its Civilization Studies Project, including Harmony of Civilizations and the End of the "Clash of Civilizations" Theory, offering new intellectual insights for global governance.

With research centers for civilizational exchange established across Europe, Africa and Latin America, and with flagship events such as the China–Africa Civilizations Forum, China–Spain Civilizations Forum and China–Central and Eastern European Civilizations Forum, RUC is weaving a dynamic global network for cross-cultural dialogue.

Diverse civilizations are the foundation of a shared world. RUC will continue to use Chinese as a bridge and culture as its foundation, strengthening communication among civilizations, deepening mutual learning and contributing to a more open, inclusive and interconnected global community.