The fifth World Conference on Chinese Education was held in Beijing from Dec 19 to 20.

Themed "advancing high-quality development of Chinese language education and promoting exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations", the global event gathered 600 representatives from nearly 70 countries and regions.

Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with representatives of the meeting, which was jointly hosted by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

The conference pointed out that overseas Chinese have consistently upheld the fine tradition of valuing education and inheriting national culture. Overseas Chinese, currently more than 60 million in number, serve as a bridge connecting China and the world and play a crucial role in promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture and fostering exchanges.

Overseas Chinese language and culture education institutions, independently founded by overseas Chinese and known as the "Rooting Project", the "Hope Project" and the "Livelihood Project" in the overseas Chinese communities, have become important platforms for spreading Chinese culture and enhancing cultural exchanges.

It is hoped that Chinese language educators worldwide will empower themselves with the long-standing Chinese civilization and the country's vivid practice in advancing its development, boost their cultural confidence, and comprehensively elaborate on China's perspectives on civilization, development, and global affairs. This would help people from all over the world understand a real and multidimensional China, promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, enhance people-to-people connections, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.