“Finally, it is coming.” Several Chinese masters of translation expressed in tears late autumn at the Qizhen Lake.
On the morning of November 10, 2018, , Chinese Academy of Translation and Translation Studies, ZJU was founded on Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, with the presence of Wu Zhaohui, President of Zhejiang University.
He Lianzhen, Vice President of Zhejiang University, announced its foundation and inaugurated it with Xu Jun, Director of the Academy, distinguished senior professor of humanities and social science and Standing Vice-president of Translators Association of China.
In his speech, Wu Zhaohui expressed his opinion that we should trace the sources of culture for the transmission of excellent Chinese culture in a new era, promote the fusion of oriental and western culture to make innovations through cooperation and mutual learning, facilitate inter-disciplinary studies to revitalize traditional Chinese culture. He hoped that Chinese Academy of Translation and Translation Studies could present China to the whole world in an authentic, dimensional and comprehensive way by leading the trend, understanding changes and airing opinions so as to inherit and innovate excellent Chinese culture in the communication of world civilization in an age of transformation.
After that, several participants gave speeches respectively, namely Huang Youyi, member of Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and director of China National Committee for Translation and Interpreting Education, Jin Shenghua, former President of Hong Kong Translation Society and Chair Professor of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Wang Junzhe, President of Xi’an International Studies University, Bi Feiyu, a well-known Chinese writer, Li Guoping, literary critic and editor-in-chief of Novel Review, Jiang Chengyong, Chairman of Zhejiang Federation of Philosophy and Social Sciences and Professor Xu Jun of Zhejiang University. They believed the foundation of Chinese Academy of Translation and Translation Studies is of far-reaching significance in the context of Chinese literature and culture going global at the best time.
Congratulations also came from three consultants of the Academy, namely, Le Clézio, a famous French writer and winner of Nobel Prize in Literature, Mo Yan, winner of Nobel Prize in Literature and Xu Yuanchong, a distinguished Chinese translator and winner of Aurora Borealis Award from International Federation of Translators.
With Chinese culture as the root, endowing equal importance to translation and translation studies, the Academy is dedicated to promoting excellent culture and foreign exchanges, expanding spiritual realms and encouraging ideological innovation through the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. When interviewed by journalists, Professor Xu Jun said the Academy would focus on four aspects, namely Chinese characters, literature, culture and ideas, because literature, as an embodiment of human spirit, can touch our hearts and souls so literature is essential in the communication of human beings. “We would cultivate talents of the new era with humanistic feelings and global vision, with affection for Chinese and foreign culture and dedication to the community with a shared future for mankind,” he said.
In the ceremony, Chinese Academy of Translation and Translation Studies signed strategic cooperation agreements with The Commercial Press and Zhejiang University Press respectively. Meanwhile, precious manuscripts of famous writers and translators were donated to the Academy.
On the same day, Zijingang Campus witnessed the opening ceremony of the Summit for Translation and Dissemination of Chinese Literature in a New Era. Tang Wensheng, former Standing Vice President of China Translators Association, Zhong Weihe, Standing Vice President of Translators Association of China, and Li Jingduan, former Director of Yilin Press and a well-known publisher made reports respectively on “The mission of translation in the new era”, “On the construction of Chinese translation discipline and the development of Chinese translation education since Chinese Reform and Opening-up Policy” and “My views on the translation of the new era”.
Written by Wu Yalan and photographed by Zhu Yuanzhi
Translated by Li Jia and Zhou Xingchen
Edited by Xu Xueying
