At the 2025 International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), CUEB released the Chinese-English Termbase for Trade in Services , a latest research achievement led by the School of Foreign Studies (SFS).

As the world’s pioneering termbase for trade in services, it boasts significant academic value and promising societal impact. To uncover the significance behind this project, reporters from CUEB News Center conducted exclusive interviews with team leaders, Liu Chongxiao, SFS Dean and Deputy Party Secretary, and Li Shuangyan, Assistant Dean.

Dean Liu leads team discussions

In 2019, with the approval of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the former “China (Beijing) International Fair for Trade in Services” was renamed the “China International Fair for Trade in Services.” Dean Liu noted that this change “signals more than a rebranding—it represents a sector-wide upgrade that aligns with global developments.” Against this backdrop, Liu’s team embarked on their mission to develop the termbase around 2020.

Developing Large language model (LLM)-based data collection model

“Our research kicked off in 2021, We mobilized a core group of faculty members who led our students in corpus collection, systematic compilation, translation, and proofreading,” Dean Liu explained.

Leveraging AI technologies like LLMs, the termbase ingests 14 years of data (2012-2025). The development process involved three key stages—data collection, AI-powered translation, and manual review—which were further refined into nine specific steps. This included source identification, data acquisition, cleansing and preprocessing, automated extraction and alignment, term annotation, linguistic proofreading, expert review by trade economists, and final verification by language specialists. Liu also acknowledged key contributors, stating, “Professors Zhu Guang from the School of Economics, and Zhou Zhenkun from the School of Artificial Intelligence provided invaluable expertise during the process.”

Through close collaboration with the Beijing Service Trade Transaction Centre and CICG (China International Communications Group) Academy of Translation and Interpretation, the team built a bilingual termbase covering major service trade sectors, consisting of 273 entries with approximately 120,000 words.

Comparing AI-generated translations and those refined by human experts

Research on Chinese terminology remains a largely untapped area in domestic foreign language studies. “CUEB recognized this gap and took the initiative to delve deep into terminology research in China’s service trade sector, committing to producing a landmark work,” noted Assistant Dean Li Shuangyan. And indeed, this ambitious vision has been masterfully realized. Already adopted by several prominent domestic companies, the termbase is generating considerable social benefits. By serving as a definitive linguistic reference, it reduces misunderstandings and communication barriers between Chinese and international service trade institutions and professionals.

Assistant Dean Li in a discussion with team members

Another standout feature of this “landmark work” is its expansion of the School’s training framework. Qi Qi, a 2024 MTI (Master of Translation and Interpretation) student, took an active part in building the terminology database, an experience that helped shape his career direction. “The experience provided me with an in-depth understanding of service trade. It was this very insight that allowed me to navigate my job search with targeted goals and unwavering confidence.” Qi shared.

Undergraduates also contributed. Zhao Jiaqi, a 2021 French major, described her participation as one of the most profoundly rewarding experience during her school life. “Language is a tool for communication, and communication creates value. Watching the termbase take shape, I saw not only the value of the project, but also the value I could bring,” she reflected.

Notably, this multi-year project has served as an incubator for the professional growth of its young faculty members. As Dean Liu observed, “This research process reflects the School’s commitment to organized academic activity. A number of young teachers, including Dr. Wang Lefan, have generated valuable research ideas and achieved encouraging academic outcomes through their involvement.”

Integrating social service, personnel cultivation, and academic research, this termbase stands as a “Tree of Wisdom” planted by the SFS community. As it grows and flourishes, it will help service trade enterprises at home and abroad nurture their “industrial roots”.