The Chinese version of “De Gruyter Publishers: Tradition and Innovation Since 1749” was released at a ceremony held at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on April 25.

The ceremony was hosted by the School of International Journalism and Communication and the Research Centre for International Publication and Media at BFSU, the Zhejiang University Press and the Research Centre for Digital Publishing at Zhejiang University (ZJU).

A ceremony is held at BFSU on April 25 to mark the release of the Chinese version of “De Gruyter Publishers: Tradition and Innovation Since 1749”. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At the livestreamed book launch, He Mingxing, director of the BFSU Research Centre for International Publication and Media and translator of “De Gruyter Publishers: Tradition and Innovation Since 1749”, explained reasons for him to translate the book with his decades-long experience in the publishing sector. He shared interesting stories and gave his personal thoughts on the development of the publishing sector.

He said the book has reviewed the production activities of German publishing workers in humanism and natural sciences from 1749 to 1999 and demonstrated their efforts to bring German culture to the world.

The publishing industry has firmly taken root in cultural beliefs and it has been integrated with economic and social benefits, He said, adding that he had contemplated how to better present the glorious Chinese culture to the world in a professional way through his translation.

He called on the domestic publishing sector to create a respectable and lovely image of China bearing in mind the differences between China and the West in value systems. 

Chu Chaofu, president of the Zhejiang University Press; Xu Jun, senior professor in liberal arts with ZJU and head of the Chinese Academy of Translation and Translation Studies; and Carsten Buhr, managing director of De Gruyter Publishing House, gave speeches via video link.

The book launch also brought together professors and scholars from prestigious universities and research institutes across the country, who voiced their proposals on how to fully leverage the roles of the Chinese publishing sector in the promotion of international communication.

The publication of the Chinese version of “De Gruyter Publishers: Tradition and Innovation Since 1749” has provided the domestic publishing professionals with new perspectives in their studies of international publication.

Professors and scholars from prestigious universities and research institutes in China attend the book launch on April 25. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]