The eight-day 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) has drawn to a successful close in Shanghai. Amid this globally anticipated economic and trade event, MTI (Master of Translation and Interpreting) students from the Department of English, School of Foreign Studies, Tongji University, served as a vital linguistic bridge for Chinese-foreign communication. With solid language proficiency, professional interpreting skills, and enthusiastic service, they worked behind the spotlight to ensure smooth communication at this international event, demonstrating the competence and sense of responsibility of Tongji foreign language students.

Zhang Yilin, an MTI postgraduate student in interpretation program, worked as a part-time interpreter at this year‘s CIIE, providing professional support for Wild Prairie Soap Company, which made its debut at the expo. The company specializes in natural care products, featuring handmade soaps and plant-extract formulas, and is committed to promoting eco-friendly concepts. Its core objective was to connect with agents and partners in the Chinese market while conveying the philosophy of natural care to expo visitors.

Over three consecutive days of interpreting practice, Zhang Yilin's work encompassed B2B business negotiation interpreting, B2C product consultation, and brand promotion. She participated fully in cooperation talks between the exhibitor and domestic corporate representatives, accurately conveying key information regarding product ingredients, production processes, supply and ordering. When addressing on-site audiences and online influencers, she flexibly shifted into product presentation mode, using vivid and accessible bilingual explanations to clearly articulate the product’s natural attributes and suitable applications, successfully attracting significant attention.

Zhang Zhehao, another MTI interpreting postgraduate, provided interpreting services for SINOVEDA, a Canadian AI-driven biopharmaceutical company. Over four days of exhibition interpreting, he enabled smooth communication between Chinese and Canadian enterprises in technical exchanges and business negotiations through his professional skills and composure under pressure.

At this CIIE, SINOVEDA, an innovative company committed to revolutionizing traditional drug development processes using cutting-edge AI technology, showcased its core product portfolio, including Cordyva herbal extract, Proflexa plant-based analgesic balm, and Effecti-Cal calcium supplement.

Facing diverse and specialized scenarios, Zhang Zhehao’s services covered the entire business cooperation chain. At the exhibition booth, he used consecutive interpreting to accurately translate product technical principles, ingredient advantages, and the R&D philosophy behind the “AI pharmaceutical platform technology” into promotional language that attracted potential clients and distributors. During the company’s keynote speech, leveraging background knowledge prepared beforehand, he delivered a five-minute consecutive interpretation without notes, flexibly handling complex medical terminology. In one-on-one cooperation negotiations between SINOVEDA and the Qinghai Institute of Highland Plants, he provided real-time, accurate language support on issues such as technology licensing and market strategy using whispered interpreting and consecutive interpreting formats.

Though the curtain has fallen on the CIIE, the journey for Tongji foreign language students never stops. Through this interpreting practice, MTI students not only applied classroom knowledge to real and complex scenarios, honing their professional skills, but also earned praise from exhibitors through their outstanding performance, embodying the practical spirit of Tongji's School of Foreign Studies.

Connecting China with the world through voice, and fostering exchange and cooperation with wisdom, represents not only a significant chapter in personal growth but also a brilliant showcase of the achievements in training English majors. We hope these English students will continue to use language as a bridge to convey China’s voice, share China’s stories effectively, and contribute Tongji wisdom and youthful vitality to the great cause of building a community with a shared future for humanity.