Shanghai: The Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding participated in the conference, “The Reality and Challenges of the Arabic-Chinese Translation Movement,” hosted by Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). The event was part of the award’s delegation tour in the People’s Republic of China from September 16 to 26, which included visits to both Beijing and Shanghai.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Shanghai Translation Conference brought together a group of professors, researchers, and translators from both the Chinese and Arab worlds, aiming to strengthen cultural exchange and present a vision of the current state and future prospects of translation between Arabic and Chinese. At the opening of the conference, Professor Wang Youyong, Director of the Institute of Translation Studies at SISU, emphasized the role of translation as a bridge of communication between peoples, not just a transfer of words but a means of conveying meanings and emotions.
He praised the pioneering role of the Sheikh Hamad Award in honoring translators and opening broader horizons for cultural cooperation. He expressed hopes to strengthen partnerships to prepare a new generation of translators and deepen the friendship between Chinese and Arab civilizations. He also discussed his belief that translation is not a mechanical process but a profound civilizational and human act.
Dr. Mohammed Al Ahmari, Director General of the Award, expressed his pleasure at the convening of the conference, affirming that translation is the most honest path to direct understanding between peoples. He explained that the award aims to be a beacon of civilizational communication, calling for more joint efforts to promote knowledge between China and the Arab world.
The first intervention, delivered by Professor Ding Jun, Director of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, focused on the early arrival of Islam in China. His presentation addressed the development of translating the meanings of the Holy Qur’an into Chinese, beginning in the 17th century, with significant expansion in the 21st century enhancing exchange between Chinese and Arab Islamic civilizations.
Dr. Lu Yiwei, a professor at the College of Asian and African Studies, praised the award’s role in promoting cultural dialogue. She emphasized that Shanghai literature, through its translations and reception in the Arab world, enriched Arabic literature, forming a model of cultural exchange between the two civilizations.
Dr. Chen Youyang, Vice Dean of the College of Asian and African Studies, highlighted the Arabic Language Department at the university, celebrating its 65th anniversary. She explained the department’s role in building understanding between China and the Arab world through translating and publishing classical Arabic literature.
Assistant Professor Dr. Jiu Shuwen focused on the challenges translators face with cultural symbols in Chinese texts. She reviewed a recent research experience employing artificial intelligence to measure semantic accuracy, noting that AI serves as a supportive tool but cannot replace the cultural and human sensitivity necessary for translation.