China and the Arabic-speaking world represent major world powers economically, culturally, and politically. And with the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding conference’s conclusion at the end of September, their international conversation is closer than ever.
Running from Sept. 16-26, the conference represented the first inclusion of the Chinese language in the Sheikh Hamad Award’s history. To mark the occasion, Chinese academics and translators joined their Arabic-speaking counterparts in Beijing to participate in the discussions, The Peninsula reports.
“This conference represents an exceptional cultural milestone, as it is the first initiative of its kind in China focusing on Arabic-Chinese translation to be organized in China by a non-Chinese institution,” Qatar News Agency officials said in a statement. “This highlights the pioneering role of the award in consolidating its position as a global platform for dialogue and intercultural communication.”
Structured under the theme of “the reality and challenges of the translation movement between Arabic and Chinese, the conference was planned in coordination with the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University and represents the first time an Arabic-Chinese translation event was organized in China by a non-Chinese organization. Academics from Peking University, Guangzhou University, and the University of International Business and Economics attended to discuss translation and literature between the two languages.
“Speakers … touched on the translation of foundational Arabic religious and intellectual works, indicating that some of these translations were done through intermediary languages and noting the importance of promoting direct translation between Arabic and Chinese to ensure accuracy,” Qatar News Agency officials said.
“Meanwhile, other speakers addressed efforts to translate Chinese heritage into Arabic, pointing to linguistic and conceptual challenges, and calling for greater cultural engagement and academic rigor,” they added. “The challenge of dual impact of artificial intelligence on the future of translation was also discussed.”
The conference was also an opportunity to touch upon the unique shared history between the Arabic and Chinese peoples, including the translation of the Holy Qur'an into Chinese beginning in the 17th century and developing over three centuries, according to The Peninsula.
“This was followed by more than fourteen translations, including the work of Professor Mohammed Makin at Peking University,” The Peninsula reports.
And that cross-cultural discourse was a two-way bridge as Chinese literature was translated into Arabic and made its way into schools and cultural centers throughout China, Egypt, and Syria during the mid-20th century.
“[Professor at the College of Asian and African Studies Dr. Lu Yiwei] emphasized that Shanghai literature, through its translations and reception in the Arab world, not only enhanced knowledge about China but also enriched Arabic literature in both criticism and creativity, forming a living model of cultural exchange and human rapprochement between the two civilizations,” The Peninsula reports.
As relevant as the past remains, the future was likewise a lingering topic as the conference unfolded. Arabic and Chinese officials alike hailed the event as a landmark moment in international relations, particularly in an era when Arabic nations and China alike are pursuing ambitious economic and technological development agendas. With both countries emerging as global leaders in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, attending academics noted the importance of cross-cultural communication and intellectual cooperation.