Chinese experts, teachers and researchers, meeting in Beijing for the 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics (AILA2011), expressed their excitement for the event, saying it will provide a strong impetus for the development of applied linguistics in China.

"Without the strenuous efforts of Chinese scholars, AILA2011 would not have made its debut in China this year," said Wen Qiufang, president of China English Language Education Association (CELEA).

Chinese scholars made their first bid for the 15th Congress at the 2002 Singapore Congress, hoping to host this "Olympics in the field of applied linguistics" side by side with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Wen said.

"By hosting the congress, we hope to promote the study of applied linguistics and foreign language education, enhance international cooperation, and introduce China's research achievements to the world; however, we lost to Essen, Germany that year," Wen said.

On July 23, 2005, then CELEA president Hu Wenzhong put a second bid, promising to offer the world a high-quality and distinctive AILA convention.

"This time, China won," Wen said, "the successful bidding demonstrated China's academic and cultural influence in the field of applied linguistics and language education."

This year's AILA world congress opened Wednesday in the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). Attracting more than 1,500 participants from 63 countries and regions, it will last five days from August 24 to 28.

The congress will serve as a platform for all participants to share ideas on a wide range of critical issues in the field of applied linguistics.

Wen hoped that the conference will be the starting point for more active collaborations between Chinese and international scholars and institutions in the future.

Related

• Linguistics convention enhances exchanges
• Welcome address by Martin Bygate, president of AILA
• AILA2011 to open in Beijing
• China won the bid for hosting World Congress of Applied Linguistics

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