On the afternoon of April 14, 2026, the 307th lecture of the Foreign Language and Culture Forum was held successfully at XJTU. The guest speaker was Professor Li Zhiqing, a distinguished scholar in Sino-French cultural and educational exchange and a recipient of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques—one of France's highest honors in education and culture.
Centering on the theme Intercultural Interpretation and Narrative Construction: The Role of Foreign Language Teachers in Communicating China's National Image, Professor Li integrated rigorous academic theories with practical cross-cultural communication strategies. Zeng Zhu, Director of the Department of French, presided over the lecture.
During the lecture, Professor Li stated that foreign language professionals serve as not only language instructors but also cultural mediators. To communicate effectively across cultures, he noted, teachers and students need both solid linguistic competence and an in-depth grasp of native cultural traditions, while staying attuned to developments at home and abroad.
To address the challenges in intercultural communication, Professor Li emphasized four guiding principles: accuracy, humanity, diversity, and interaction. He encouraged language professionals to ground their interpretations in reliable sources and verifiable facts, while respecting audiences' diverse cultural contexts and modes of thinking. Effective communication, he suggested, relies on dialogue and mutual understanding rather than one-way transmission.
To illustrate these ideas, Professor Li shared personal experiences accumulated over years of intercultural exchange. In one example, a casual conversation with a fellow passenger on a flight to France earned him an invitation to deliver a lecture at the headquarters of the French Communist Party in Paris. In another, he elaborated on how explaining the cultural connotations embedded in Chinese characters such as ren (person) and jia (family/home) helped French audiences better understand Chinese perspectives on human-centered values and the relationship between family and society.
Drawing on his extensive engagement with French communities, Professor Li discussed how communicators can draw upon local intellectual traditions and discourse frameworks to mitigate misunderstandings and build meaningful cross-cultural connections. He encouraged students to avoid both uncritical admiration and outright rejection of other cultures, advocating instead for mutual learning and respect. Reflecting on both the commonalities and divergences between Chinese and French cultures, he underscored the significance of identifying shared values and converging points. Such cultural resonance, he noted, fosters trust, deepens mutual comprehension, and enables more effective cross-cultural communication. He concluded by encouraging teachers and students in foreign studies to consolidate their disciplinary expertise, broaden their global perspectives, and contribute to advance intercultural understanding through their academic research and professional practice.
During the Q&A session, teachers and students took an active part in exchanges, raising questions covering intercultural communication, language education and cultural representation. Professor Li offered down-to-earth advice based on his extensive international experience.
The lecture provided valuable insights into cross-cultural interpretation and the global communication of China's national image. Participants remarked that they were inspired by Professor Li's dedication and professional attainments. They pledged to elevate their cultural awareness and intercultural communication competence, dedicate themselves to international cultural exchange, and help the world develop a more precise, well-rounded understanding of China.
