A symposium on Dunhuang studies and translation was held in Dunhuang, Gansu province on Aug. 8.
Over 200 experts and scholars from more than 10 countries and regions including Britain, the United States, Russia and Italy engaged in dialogues and exchanges focusing on Dunhuang's importance in promoting cultural inclusion and integration.
The symposium was co-hosted by China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and the People's Government of Gansu Province, the China Academy of Translation, the Translation Association of China, the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Gansu Province, and Dunhuang Academy.
Gao Anming, vice president of the CIPG, said Dunhuang culture exemplified the Silk Road spirit and the exchanges of world civilizations, which was not only a cultural treasure of China, but belonged to all humanity.
"We should explore Dunhuang culture in depth, constantly examining its value so as to provide reference for exchanges and development of civilizations around the world in the new era," he said at the symposium.
Gao also suggested that, for dissemination and development of Dunhuang culture, experts from various countries and China's senior translators should actively promote cultural exchanges, especially through "Belt and Road" international cooperation, and mutual learning among various civilizations.
Zhang Baojun, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Gansu Province, said that, with a vast territory, Gansu could claim not only magnificent natural landscapes and a precious world-class cultural heritage, but also a unique geographical location and huge development potential.
Huang Youyi, Wu Fangsi, Zhao Shengliang, and other participants gave speeches on the translation and introduction of Dunhuang culture.
During the symposium, results from the "Chinese Thinking and Culture Multilingual Terminology Database" and "Dunhuang Cultural and Art Works Translation Project," namely "Key Concepts in Dunhuang Culture" (in both Chinese and English), and "Dunhuang" (English version) were released.
The various experts and scholars exchanged views on three sub-topics: Dunhuang culture's textual research and interpretation, protection and preservation, translation and dissemination.
Yang Ping, vice president of the Institute of Contemporary China and World Studies, said that the symposium had displayed a more vivid Dunhuang culture of great significance for promoting exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations and facilitating China's excellent traditional culture going global.
Following the symposium, a three-day workshop on translating Chinese culture was being held from Aug. 9 to 11, bringing together Chinese and foreign experts on Dunhuang studies, China Studies and translation to provide lectures and conduct exchanges with translators from foreign affairs departments, art institutes, museums, universities and other organizations.
The main focus is on the difficulties and corresponding strategies in translating Dunhuang and Chinese culture, the differences between Chinese and English language and culture, as well as the analysis of Chinese cultural translation cases, aiming to enhance the cultural awareness and ability of the translators.
