Xinhuanet, China
Recently, the World Taoist Federation's first training course for Taoist international exchange talent opened at the Shanghai Taoist Academy, with 30 Taoist key members from 14 provinces across the country taking part in eight weeks of intensive training.
Li Guangfu, chairman of the World Taoist Federation and president of the China Taoist Association, pointed out that Taoist culture is an important part of China's fine traditional culture and also a spiritual treasure shared by all humanity, and it ought to play a greater role in promoting exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations.
This training is the first special training in international exchange talent that the World Taoist Federation has held for the Chinese Taoist community since its founding. It aims to implement the plans for building up religious talent and to build a reserve of new strength for Taoism's international exchanges.
“I hope all the trainees will stand firm politically, improve their overall ability in international exchange, bravely take up the mission of spreading Taoist culture internationally, and devote themselves to the practice of Taoist cultural exchange abroad with solid learning and broad vision,” said Li Guangfu. He noted that this training is an important step by the World Taoist Federation in strengthening the cultivation of international exchange talent, and that in the future the Federation will continue to run this flagship training well and keep improving its platform for training talent in Taoism's foreign exchanges.
The opening ceremony
At the opening ceremony, the trainees expressed their expectations for the training and their understanding of Taoist international exchange, showing the spirit and sense of responsibility of today's young Taoist priests.
The course was sponsored by the World Taoist Federation and the China Taoist Association, co-organized by the Shanghai Taoist Association and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and hosted by the Shanghai Taoist Academy and the Shanghai City God Temple. It offers courses in religious policy, Taoist classics, foreign-language communication, world religions, and cross-cultural exchange. Through systematic teaching, it aims to strengthen the foundation of young and middle-aged Taoist reserve talent, build a team of Taoist talent combining Taoist learning with an international outlook, support the creative transformation and innovative development of Taoist culture in a global context, and enhance the international reach and influence of Chinese culture.