Until now, however, the only course of training in conference interpreting has been the two-year MA programme at Beijing Foreign Studies University ("Bei Wai"), formerly the UN programme. Now running as the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, the Bei Wai programme has a unique standing in China given the history of its relationship with the UN and the government. It is also the alma mater of many chief interpreters, most notably of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and hence has received much exposure within officialdom and the general public through media coverage of meetings between the Chinese leadership and their opposite numbers from other countries and of the interpreters who work for them under the public eye. For the teachers and researchers out there who would like a good reason to visit China, Bei Wai will host in May 2002 a national conference on interpreting training and research, with a focus on cognitive processes.

Despite the rapid development of conference interpreting as a profession, there seems to be no move to create a national accreditation system. Professional accreditation in China is generally a government function run through the competent line ministry. Lawyers, for example, are tested, licensed, and regulated by the Ministry of Justice. While the municipal government of Shanghai has set up a test-based accreditation scheme mainly aimed at general-level consecutive interpreters, there is no parallel in Beijing or within the state government, let alone a formal accreditation system for conference interpreters. Since there is no tradition or mechanism in China for independent professional bodies with a regulatory function, a national accreditation system seems unlikely unless the government develops an interest in regulating this new - and small - profession. Local AIIC members do underscore their membership of the international association in their public relations and marketing efforts, but are still far too few to have a well-recognised profile. The closest analogue to professional accreditation at present is a degree from Bei Wai or elsewhere and working experience in the government and/or UN system.

Conclusion

These are, then, as the saying actually does not happen to go in Chinese, most interesting times to be living and working in China as conference interpreters. There is a strong sense among colleagues that we are making important contributions to international communication and understanding in a rapidly changing China, and are, from inside our booths, facilitating international dialogue, reform, and development in a country that is home to almost a quarter of the world's population. Conference interpreters in China look forward to further exciting developments in the profession with the profound socio-economic transformation of China and heightened international engagement in both the public and private sectors. We are also looking forward to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and the opportunity to work for what may be our largest audience ever.

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