23 September to 24 September 2025
Our conference
As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to enhance global connectivity, this conference explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing intercultural communication and related fields. Focusing on such key areas as intercultural communication, health communication, translation, and digital humanities, the conference will address how AI reshapes interactions, fosters collaboration, and bridges cultural and linguistic gaps across the BRI regions. The conference also delves into critical topics such as the risks and countermeasures associated with AI, providing a platform for thought provoking discussions on its implications for global engagement. By bringing together experts in academia, healthcare, translation studies, and technology, the event aims to produce innovative solutions and strategies for leveraging AI to navigate complex global challenges and enhance cross-cultural understanding.
Conference Themes
We welcome papers, panels, workshops, and work-in-progress sessions on (but not limited to) the following topics with links to artificial intelligence (AI):
- Health Communication
Pragmatics, metaphor analysis, multimodal discourse analysis and corpus linguistics.
- Intercultural Communication
Global communication of Chinese culture, China in global news, business communication and teaching Chinese culture overseas.
- Language and Culture Education
AI generated teaching materials, systematic review and empirical studies of AI application in language teaching.
- Law and BRI: Legal Frameworks
Cross-border Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property Rights, Investment Laws, and Legal Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
- Finance and Business
- Environmental Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development
- Ethical Considerations of AI
Call for papers
We encourage submissions for:
- Individual Papers (10–15 minute presentation)
- Panel Discussions (group presentation)
- Workshops focused on collaborative problem-solving
- Poster Presentations showcasing innovative research
Please indicate which category you would like to submit your paper for at the time of submission.
The deadline for submission is 1 May 2025.
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Abstract requirements
Interested faculty members, researchers and postgraduate students are welcome to submit a paper.
Please submit the following by email to bri-conference@lancaster.ac.uk.
A 300-word abstract for individual paper (in English or Chinese)
A short biography (maximum 100 words)
For non-English submissions, provide an English translation for the ease of the selection committee.
Submission deadline: 1 May 2025.
Notifications of acceptance will be communicated by 30 May 2025.
To encourage research in this area among young scholars, the organising committee is pleased to provide scholarships for three PhD candidates. The award will cover the conference fee, 3 nights’ accommodation, and any local cultural activities organised by the conference committee.
For those who hope their papers to be assessed for PhD scholarships, you should submit a full paper no less than 7,000 words in English (excluding abstract and bibliography) on any subjects addressing the conference themes to bri-conference@lancaster.ac.uk.
Submission deadline: 1 May 2025.
Supporters and Academic Partners
Host and organiser: Lancaster University Confucius Institute
Conference partner: Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China
Program and registration
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The conference fee includes conference attendance, tea and coffee breaks and lunch for both days.
- Conference fee: £300 per person
- Conference fee for PhD students: £150 per person
Registration link: Conference registration to attend the Fifth Belt and Road Initiative Interdisciplinary Conference at Lancaster University
Conference registration will close on 23 August 2025.
The conference will take place from 9.00am on Tuesday 23rd September until approximately 4.00pm on Wednesday 24th September 2025.
On Thursday 25th September 2025, there will be an optional visit to the Lake District National Park, which will return to Lancaster by 3.00pm. Places for this trip are limited and reserved on a first come, first served basis.
Travel information
The conference will take place at Lancaster University.
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The university’s travel page provides detailed instructions on how to get here by car, rail, bus, air, and bicycle.
There are two options for campus accommodation, please see the links below.
- On-campus bed and breakfast accommodation (guest rooms on campus)
- Lancaster House Hotel (four-star hotel, located at the edge of campus)
If you prefer staying in Lancaster (town), there are several options, which you can easily find on booking websites.
How to contact us
Please email bri-conference@lancaster.ac.uk
Previous Conferences
- Fourth Lancaster University Interdisciplinary Conference on Belt and Road Initiative: New Trends in Belt and Road Initiative Research, 13-14 June 2024.
- Third Lancaster University Interdisciplinary Conference on Belt and Road Initiative: Belt and Road at 10, 24-26 May 2023
- Second Interdisciplinary Conference on Belt and Road Initiative: The Transition from the Pandemic, 8-10 June 2022 (hybrid)
- First Interdisciplinary Conference on Belt and Road Initiative & Launch of Lancaster University Belt and Road Initiative Research Consortium, 6-8 June 2019