On April 28, the National Language Service Corps (NLSC) was established in Beijing. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Director of the National Language Commission (NLC), attended the group’s inaugural meeting and delivered a speech. The event was also participated both online and offline by over 200 representatives from the Ministry of Emergency Management, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, the co-sponsors of the NLSC and the Research Institution of the NLC, etc.

Tian noted that, initially organized as a force to solve communication problems in the fight against the COVID-19, the language service corps were now set to be a regular institution, ready to join action launched by authorities in response to any major emergencies that may affect public safety and health through volunteer language services.

Tian stressed that, in carrying out its tasks, the NLSC should have strong accountability and seek synergy in organizing emergency services. In addition, it should also aim to promote language capacity building at national level.

Jointly initiated by 29 higher education institutions, enterprises and associations, the NLSC is a public alliance composed of institutions and individuals who are willing to provide language services, including Mandarin Chinese, minority languages, Chinese dialects, sign language, Braille and foreign languages, to remove communication hurdles in the work of dealing with emergencies and other significant matters at national level.