Skopos Theory Informing Interpreting Strategies: An Analysis of the 2025 Two Sessions Press Conferences

As a pivotal platform for China’s authoritative diplomatic discourse, the interpreting quality at the Two Sessions (the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) plays a critical role in shaping the national image and facilitating the global dissemination of China’s narratives. Anchored in the Skopos Theory from the Functionalist perspective, this study examines the strategic decision-making and functional pathways in diplomatic interpreting, with a focused analysis of the interpreting practices at the 2025 Two Sessions Premier’s Press Conference. The findings demonstrate that Skopos Theory effectively elucidates the reasons for interpreting in high-stakes diplomatic contexts, framing interpreters not as passive conduits but as active agents in China’s international communication. This research offers meaningful implications for cultivating a cohort of interpreters aligned with China’s diplomatic objectives and enhancing the clarity and reach of its global voice.