Symposium on World Literature and China was held and the Center for Translation and Study of World Literature was established

DATE： 2024-06-01

On May 31, Symposium on World Literature and China and the opening ceremony of the Center for Translation and Study of World Literature were held. Li Jingze, Vice President of the Chinese Writers Association, Lin Shangli, President of the Renmin University of China, Zhu Baoxia, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Daily, Kan Ninghui, President of Shanghai Century Publishing Group; Yang Nianci, Director of the Cultural Department of the German Embassy in China, Man Haochen, Head of the Cultural Department of the Austrian Embassy in China, Hao Lulu, Counsellor of Culture and Education of the Hungarian Embassy in China and Director of the Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Center Beijing, Yudai Omura, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in China, and Jiaxi, Third Secretary of the Kazakh Embassy in China, attended the opening ceremony. Feng Shizheng, Vice President of Renmin University of China, presided.

The newly established Center for Translation and Study of World Literature at Renmin University of China is the first academic research center in China that focuses on the common values of humanity from the perspective of world literature. Relying on the construction of the School of Foreign Languages, the Center will strive to build a platform for foreign literature translation, for foreign literature study, and for Chinese and foreign literature dialogue, and thus create a sustainable publishing system for world literature translation, publish a series of sustainable output academic research results, build a sustainable academic student generation mechanism, actively participate in exchanges with foreign civilizations, and promote Chinese and foreign literature and cultural exchanges. In the near future, the Center will launch its first batch of results, a total of 10 foreign literary translations in 6 languages.

Lin Shangli said that the common values of humanity proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping are not only the core theme of the literature of all countries in the world, but also the basic context of humanities and social sciences research in the era of globalization, but also the practice of integrating Chinese and foreign cultural differences, identifying the paradigm of exchanges between civilizations, and touching the communication between Chinese and Western texts in the process of building China's independent knowledge system. He pointed out that the common values of humanity and world literature are in line with each other in humanistic consciousness, people's consciousness, and human consciousness. We hope that the Center will thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech during the research study at Renmin University of China, always carry forward the common values of humanity, deepen cultural exchanges, and contribute great efforts to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Li Jingze reckoned that world literature is an evolving modern theme. In a new era, we especially need to conduct in-depth research on the concept of world literature and the classic sequences and modern mechanisms it contains, and constantly construct new connotations, new issues, and new categories of world literature, which are crucial to the formation and construction of a community of human emotions and destiny. It is expected that translators, writers and scholars can use this seminar and the establishment of the Center as a platform to engage in the development of Chinese contemporary literature, and contribute to the continuous acquisition of new perspectives and the continuous burst of new vitality in Chinese literature. We look forward to cooperating with the Center to promote the vigorous development of Chinese contemporary literature, and contribute to the promotion of the common values of humanity and the acceleration of the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Zhu Baoxia said that today is the third anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech on strengthening China's international communication capacity building. The establishment of the Center and the holding of the symposium are of special significance. China Daily and Renmin University of China recently signed an international communication strategic cooperation agreement, which will jointly create a new model of "media+ universities" cooperation. The Center for Translation and Study of World Literature is a pivotal platform for the cooperation between the two sides to promote exchanges of Chinese and foreign literature, carry forward the common values of humanity, deepen exchanges between civilizations, and inject new impetus into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Kan Ninghui said that the common values of humanity penetrate multiple levels of individuals, countries, and the world, and contain common points that different civilizations have in value connotation and value realization. Shanghai Century Publishing Group will further deepen cooperation with Renmin University of China, establish a deeper and closer academic dialogue and cooperation mechanism, and build a world-oriented, future-oriented, public-oriented foreign literature translation and publishing research and dissemination platform. It is believed that relying on the strong academic strength and professional ability of the research center, with the concerted efforts of the publishers of Shanghai Century Publishing Group, we will be able to make greater contributions to the development of Sino-foreign cultural exchanges and the deepening of civilization exchanges.

Yang Nianci said that translation is a real artistic creation, and no matter how rapid the development of AI, translation may not be able to be completely replaced. Translation, an art that transcends borders, finds common ground in the diverse cultural landscapes. The art of translation lies in preserving the essence while changing its form. I hope that more young people who love world literature can gain inspiration for literature and translation through today's discussion.

Feng Shizheng presided.

Li Jingze, Lin Shangli, Zhu Baoxia, Kan Ninghui, Feng Shizheng, Hao Lulu, Yudai Omura, and Jia Junxue, Director of the Development Planning Department of Renmin University of China, inaugurated the Center for Translation and Study of World Literature.

Chen Fang, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages of Renmin University of China, and Wen Zeyuan, President of Shanghai People's Publishing House, respectively signed the letter of intent on behalf of the School of Foreign Languages of Renmin University of China and Shanghai People's Publishing House.

After the signing ceremony, the hiring ceremony of visiting researchers and researchers at the Center was held.

At the Symposium on World Literature and China, Chen Zongyi, member of the Faculty of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former director of the Institute of Foreign Literature, Jin Li, former vice president of the Beijing Foreign Studies University and president of BFSU Academy of Foreign Literature Studies, Xu Jun, senior professor of humanities and translator of Zhejiang University, and Diao Keli, director of the English Department of the School of Foreign Languages of the Renmin University of China, successively made keynote speeches on "Language and Literature in the Age of AI", "Multidimensional Expansion of Foreign Feminist Literary Criticism in the 21st Century", "Literary Dialogue and Cultural Exchange - the Poetic Adventures of Le Clézio in China" and "Literary Communication with Humanity as the Theme".

Revolving around "Literature and Civilization: The Way of Human Progress", Man Haochen, Head of the Cultural Department of the Austrian Embassy in China, Xu Zechen, Associate Editor and Writer of People's Literature, Huang Liaoyu, Professor of the German Department of Peking University, Director of the German Research Center and Translator, Guo Yingjian, Wu Yuzhang Distinguished Professor of Renmin University of China and Vice President of the Capital Development and Strategic Research Institute, and Wu Qian, Deputy Director of the French Department of the School of Foreign Languages of Renmin University of China, opened a dialogue from different languages and different concerns.

The sub-forum of the Symposium on World Literature and China, the Roundtable Forum on Frontier Issues in Foreign Literature and the Expert Consultation on the Building of the Center for Translation and Study of World Literature were held in the afternoon of the same day.

Written by: School Newspaper Liu Xiaoyang

Picture: Cui Chen, Yao Weikang

Editor: Dong Hanqi

Responsible Editor: Zhang Kaiyi

Typography: Li Jiawei