Relay Language in Simultaneous Interpreting: A Study Under the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative needs the support of a comprehensive language strategy that helps connect the countries along the Belt and Road.Part of that strategy is on language service, which includes the practice, training and organization of conference interpreting, among other things.This paper argues that, in the context of international organizations along the Belt and Road, setting Chinese as the relay language in conference interpreting will help facilitate communication among participating states in a short term and will contribute to discourse building and meeting other strategic goals in the long run.Successful experience in relay language usage and interpreter training of major international organizations is drawn to support the viability of the argument.