The cultivation of talent in strategically significant foreign languages constitutes a core component of China’s current national education agenda. This study traces the conceptual evolution of “critical languages”and situates their development within broader national strategic imperatives. Focusing on early-stage talent cultivation in Shanghai’s basic education system, it examines the top-level institutional design, the construction of research-and-teaching support structures, and the development of interdisciplinary and integrated curricula. The paper provides a systematic account of the historical trajectory, major policy initiatives, and practical outcomes achieved to date. It further identifies persistent challenges in policy coordination, training pathways, assessment frameworks, faculty capacity building, and resource development. In response, the study proposes a set of forward-looking strategies, including establishing a citywide model zone for high-quality instruction, constructing a vertically integrated talent pipeline, developing cross-grade language proficiency scales, and employing AI technologies to enhance pedagogical effectiveness.