With the aim of promoting cultural translation and communication between China and Asian, African countries, the CCTSS-Asian, African Language Committee was established in Beijing on Dec. 15.

Huang Zhuoyue (left-1), director of the Chinese Culture Translation and Communication Research Center, takes photo with members of the CCTSS-Asian, African Language Committee in Beijing on Dec. 15. [Photo courtesy of CCTSS]

The Chinese Culture Translation and Studies Support Network (CCTSS) of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), together with School of Asian and African Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) held a seminar on Dec. 15 in Beijing on "Translation and Communication of Chinese Culture in Asian and African Countries," which included establishing the CCTSS-Asian, African Language Committee.

The seminar was organized to enhance cultural exchange between China and Asian and African countries, and to summarize and address challenges in the process of cultural translation and communication between the two sides.

Huang Zhuoyue, director of the Chinese Culture Translation and Communication Research Center, said in his opening speech that BFSU's School of Asian and African Studies ranks top in China's Asian and African studies, while the research center itself is one of the important platforms for cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. He expects their cooperation to effectively strengthen the link between China and nations of Asia and Africa, while fostering the active development of research, translation and communication.

Ge Dongdong, associate dean of the School of Asian and African Studies at BFSU, emphasized in her opening speech the important role cultural exchange plays in international diplomacy.

"In terms of developing relations with other countries, a country needs not only the ‘hard' support of economic and trade cooperation, but also the ‘soft' support of cultural exchanges," Ge said, adding, "Cultural translation and communication are essential for cultural exchange. The cultivation of talent and deepening of research are also vital to the effectiveness of cultural exchanges."

Ge echoed that the setup of the CCTSS-Asian, African Language Committee will successfully promote the translation and communication of Chinese culture in Asian and African countries.

Xue Qingguo, professor of Arab studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, talked in his keynote speech about the importance of quality control during translation of Chinese and Arab books.

Xue stated that since reform and opening up, China International Publishing Group and other institutions have translated a number of Chinese works into Arabic language with the help of Arab experts. These books have played an active role in improving popular understand of Chinese people in Arab countries. The number of Chinese works being translated into Arabic has risen rapidly in recent years, he noted, but some translations are of poor quality, which has a negative impact. Xue said he hoped an evaluation and supervision mechanism could be established in an effort to eliminate poor or fraudulent translations.

About 10 other experts in the field also spoke at the seminar, including historian Rapport Yoav; Ehizuelen Michael Mitchell Omoruyi, executive director of Nigerian Studies at the Center for African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University; David Rapp, reporter for Israel's Ha'aretz; and additional specialists from School of Asian and African Studies of BFSU.

12月15日，中国文化对外翻译与传播研究中心(CCTSS)联合北京外国语大学亚非学院举办“中国文化在亚非国家的翻译与传播”学术研讨会，并成立CCTSS-亚非语言专家委员会。

据了解，此次学术研讨会旨在增强中国与亚非国家间的文化交流，分析、总结中国文化在亚非国家传播过程中所遇到的翻译、出版、传播渠道等问题，为如何更好与亚非国家进行文化互译与传播献言献策。

中国文化对外翻译与传播研究中心主任、北京语言大学汉学所所长黄卓越在开幕致辞中表示，北京外国语大学的亚非教学与研究在国内相关领域居龙头地位，中国文化对外翻译与传播研究中心目前是国内进行中外文化交流最重要的平台之一，此次合作可谓强强联手，将会有力地促进中国与亚非国家之间的联系，推动研究、翻译、传播等领域工作的积极开展。

北京外国语大学亚非学院党总支书记、副院长葛冬冬在开幕致辞中强调了文化交流对于国家外交的重要作用。她表示，国与国之间关系发展，既需要经贸合作的硬支持，也离不开文化交流的软助力。文化翻译与传播对于文化交流至关重要，相关人才培养和研究，也是文化交流取得实效的关键所在。

葛冬冬认为，今后在亚非语言专家委员会的指导下，开展相关学术交流和研讨，对促进中国文化在亚非国家的翻译与传播，必将起到积极推动作用。

北京外国语大学教授、中国阿拉伯文学研究会秘书长薛庆国在主旨发言环节重点关注了中阿文化译介中存在的问题。他表示：“改革开放以来，外文局等单位在阿拉伯专家的指导帮助下，把不少中国作品翻译成阿拉伯语，对阿拉伯读者了解中国起到了积极作用。近几年翻译阿拉伯语的中文作品虽然颇有规模，但部分出版翻译工程粗制滥造，图书出版方面的浮夸、造假现象屡见不鲜，造成非常恶劣的影响。薛教授表示，希望建立翻译和发行的评价监督机制，杜绝译字译文和造假现象。

历史学家、希伯来语译者Rapport Yoav，浙江师范大学非洲研究中心尼日利亚研究执行主任Ehizuelen Michael Mitchell Omoruyi，以色列《国土报》记者David Rapp，以及北京外国语大学亚非语系专家等相关领域专家学者也出席研讨会并做了发言。