More than 1,500 researchers and teachers from 63 countries and regions convened in Beijing for the 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics on August 24.

They are to share ideas on a wide range of critical issues in applied linguistics during the five-day congress, reputed as "the Olympics in applied linguistics".

Initiated in 1964 in Nancy, France, the congress has been held every three years. It is the first time it has taken place in China, with the theme "Harmony in Diversity: Language, Culture, Society".

The congress is sponsored by the International Association of Applied Linguistics and jointly organized by China English Language Education Association, Beijing Foreign Studies University, National Research Centre for Foreign Language Education, and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.