The School of English and International Studies (SEIS) at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) welcomed its incoming undergraduate and graduate students at an opening ceremony on the afternoon of Sept. 11 in the university’s 1,000-seat auditorium.
Dean Yang Luxin told the new students that BFSU, long known as “the cradle of the Republic’s diplomats,” educates people who combine a deep knowledge of China with a global outlook and the ability to communicate across cultures. SEIS, she noted, has long-standing strengths in linguistics, literature, translation, area studies, intercultural studies, and foreign language education. She urged students to lay solid foundations, take the initiative in exploring their interests, and let encounters with other cultures and civilizations broaden their understanding, in the spirit of the School’s motto: “Striving for a mind embracing East and West, searching for the way to serve all humanity.”
Vice Dean Zhang Xiaodong said that learning English builds more than language skills, opening a way to understand the world, connect civilizations, and tell China’s story. With artificial intelligence advancing quickly, he encouraged students to value the humanistic core of their discipline and to develop independent thinking, intercultural communication, and the capacity for original inquiry alongside their professional skills.
Yin Yue, secretary of the SEIS Party Committee, delivered a Party lecture to all new students, calling on them to set high goals and accept the responsibilities of their generation, guided by BFSU’s motto, “Learn with an open mind; serve a great cause,” and by the School’s own. Yin hoped they would become well-rounded language professionals with a love of their country, a global outlook, and real expertise. Such graduates, Yin said, would carry forward the revolutionary legacy BFSU has held since its founding in Yan’an in 1941, tell China’s story well, and contribute to the country’s development and to exchange among civilizations.
Four students spoke for their classmates and shared their hopes for the years ahead: second-year master’s student Yang Jinyuan, incoming undergraduate Bai Lidan, incoming graduate student Li Jiayin, and Tu Boxi of the School’s international program.
