Asia Society and the College Board Hold the 11th National Chinese Language Conference

SALT LAKE CITY, May 24, 2018 – At a time when communication between Chinese and Americans is more important than ever, more than 1,300 educators from across the States and the globe received a warm Utah welcome at the 11th annual National Chinese Language Conference. The three-day conference was hosted by Asia Society and the College Board, and in cooperation with Hanban, from May 17–19, 2018, in Salt Lake City.

The conference celebrated the progress the U.S. has made in the development of Chinese (Mandarin) immersion programs and highlighted Utah's key role in that effort. Further, it explored how Chinese language programs are shaping a new generation of American youth who are ready to face the challenges and seize the opportunities of a dynamic and global economy.

Asia Society's Center for Global Education Director and Vice President of Education Tony Jackson echoed the importance of Chinese language programs in his remarks, telling educators, "all of you are preparing the next generation of stewards of the U.S.-China relationship, not just of those who will become the world's diplomats, but more importantly, of those youth who will determine … the day-to-day discourse of commerce, science, technology, security and the many other ways which the U.S. and China are connected."

Key figures in government, education, and U.S.-China relations spoke at the conference, including:

• Gary Herbert, Governor of Utah;
• Tony Jackson, Vice President of Education and Director of the Center for Global Education at Asia Society;
• Zhao Guocheng, Executive Deputy Director-General at Hanban;
• John Holden, CEO of the U.S.-China Strong Foundation; and
• Stacy Lyon, Utah Chinese Dual Language Immersion Director at Utah State Office of Education.

The full list of speakers and more information about the conference can be viewed on the National Chinese Language Conference website.