On August 25, the forum themed on "Translation of Humanities Classics and Mutual Learning between Civilizations" was held in Beijing. This forum is sponsored by Beijing Foreign Studies University, China-CEEC Publishing Association, hosted by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press and Chinese Culture Translation & Studies Support Network. Nearly 300 people from the publishing, translation and academic fields at home and abroad attended the forum.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the China-CEEC Publishing Association successfully held this forum by means of online and offline combination to discuss how the publishing industry and translators can promote the translation and publication of humanistic classics and strengthen the mutual learning between different civilizations.

Since its establishment in August 2018, the China-CEEC Publishing Association has made remarkable achievements in promoting copyright trade and publishing exchanges. At present, it is composed of 45 member units, including publishers from 13 CEE countries and has become an international publishing organization with extensive influence.

Ambassador Ms. Huo Yuzhen, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for China-CEEC Cooperation Affairs, proposed that the association should continue to strengthen the mutual translation of traditional classic works and carry out extensive activities to help improve the level of translators.

Ambassador Ms. Huo Yuzhen, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for China-CEEC Cooperation Affairs

Mr. Yuan Jun, Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University, said in his speech that the translation of cultural classics is a significant means and basic project for realizing the communication and mutual learning between people as well as civilizations. With the mission of "Introducing the world to China and introducing China to the world", Beijing Foreign Studies University aims to serve the national strategy and cultivate high-level international foreign language talents, so as to provide academic and intellectual support for the translation of Chinese and international classics.

Mr. Yuan Jun, Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University

Ms. Qian Shuren, Director of the Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Import and Export Administration of the State Press and Publication Administration, spoke highly of the role played by the China-CEEC Publishing Association in promoting copyright cooperation, book exhibitions and cultural translation. During the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese and foreign publishers helped each other and timely shared their anti-COVID-19 practice, which was regarded paradigmatic. Publishing colleagues should continue to deepen cooperation and jointly promote mutual learning between civilizations.

Ms. Qian Shuren, Director of the Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Import and Export Administration of the State Press and Publication Administration

Mr. Xu Jianzhong, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, introduced the main achievements of the association in information communication, experience sharing and copyright cooperation between Chinese and foreign publishers in the past two years. In particular, China and several CEE countries held a variety of meetings and seminars for publishing exchanges in 2019 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Mr. Xu called on Chinese and foreign publishers to actively face the epidemic situation, strengthen cooperation and overcome difficulties, to jointly promote the translation of cultural classics and create a bright future for industrial development.

Mr. Xu Jianzhong, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press

During the forum, Chinese and foreign publishers, writers, translators and researchers discussed the two themes which are "Mutual Learning Between Civilizations: the Mission and Responsibility of Publishing Industry" and "Translator: The Ferrymen for Cultural Exchange". Several publishers from both home and abroad made their speeches on these 2 topics.

Mr. Jidi Majia, Vice President of China Writers Association

At the forum, the signing ceremony for the multilingual publishing agreements of Jidi Majia’s book "Split-Open Planet and Late Elegy" was held. Facing the pandemic, Mr. Jidi Majia wrote these two long poems, calling for breaking down barriers and jointly fighting against the virus and defending the community of common destiny for all mankind. The collection will be published by FLTRP and will be distributed at home and abroad.

Mr. Xu Jianzhong, Editor-in-Chief of FLTRP, and Mr. Jidi Majia, Vice President of China Writers Association, at the Signing Ceremony of Split-Open Planet and Late Elegy (Multilingual edition)