The First National High-end Forum on Translation and Society was held via video conference on June 11.

The virtual summit was jointly hosted by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and the Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies at the China Association for Comparative Studies of English and Chinese (CACSEC) and undertaken by the School of English and International Studies at BFSU.

The forum also witnessed the founding of the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies.

BFSU and CACSEC co-host the First National High-end Forum on Translation and Society via video conference on June 11. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhang Jian, dean of the School of English and International Studies at BFSU, presided over the opening ceremony.

Zhong Wenming, director of the CACSEC Secretariat, read the letter of approval for the establishment of the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies. The new committee will be headquartered at BFSU. Wang Hongtao, a professor from the university, will act as its head.

Sun Youzhong, member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, speaks at the First National High-end Forum on Translation and Society on June 11. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Sun Youzhong, member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, extended congratulations and expressed thanks to industry insiders for their support.

Sun noted that the founding of the committee of socio-translation studies is of great importance to bolster China’s voice in international discourse.

Luo Xuanmin, president of the CACSEC, gives a speech on behalf of the association on June 11. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Luo Xuanmin, president of the CACSEC, said solid linguistic foundation and cross-disciplinary vision have been a highly recommended approach for the association to conduct research.

The field of socio-translation studies has gathered a group of high-level researchers with fruitful results, Luo said and added that the inclusion of the Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies into the CACSEC will provide research fellows with a broader platform and higher goals.

Huang Youyi, executive vice-president of the TAC, speaks at the First National High-end Forum on Translation and Society on June 11. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Huang Youyi, executive vice-president of the Translators Association of China (TAC), said translation has played an important role in China’s development and evolution over the past century, highlighting its significance in making Chinese stories better known and enhancing Chinese international communication capacity.

He added that the establishment of the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies comes at an opportune time and has far-reaching impact in the cultivation of high-level translation talents, who bear great importance to help the world learn more about China.

Xu Jun, a veteran professor from Zhejiang University, suggests the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies to strengthen ties with other professional committees at the association. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Xu Jun, a veteran professor of liberal arts from Zhejiang University, said socio-translation studies should focus on the relations and interaction between the society and translation, expand the scope of its research and promote public understanding of the importance of translation.

Wang Kefei, a chair professor from BFSU, gives a speech at the First National High-end Forum on Translation and Society on June 11. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Wang Kefei, a chair professor from BFSU, reviewed the history and development of socio-translation studies at home and abroad and expounded on the theoretical and value foundations for translation studies from the perspective of sociology. He talked about the close relationship between translation and the society and urged Chinese researchers in translation studies to pay more attention to the theories, approaches and perspectives with Chinese characteristics and take into account realistic issues at home.

Fu Jingmin, a professor from Shanghai University and honorary head of the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies, stresses the importance of the discipline at the forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

In his keynote speech at the conference, Fu Jingmin, a professor from Shanghai University and honorary head of the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies, said the discipline has become a major research paradigm in translation studies, adding that cross-disciplinary research of translation should be conducted in social scenarios and devote more attention to the social features of translation and the translation-oriented nature of social affairs.

Wang Hongtao, a professor from BFSU and head of the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies, talks about the theoretical basis and practical functions of socio-translation research. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Wang Hongtao, head of the CACSEC Professional Committee of Socio-Translation Studies, reviewed the development of socio-translation studies and explained the basic theories of the discipline and theoretical foundation for conducting relevant research. Wang made an analysis of the feasibility, necessity and importance of socio-translation research, and held talks over the principles of its research methodology.

Over 10,000 people followed the virtual meeting via Tencent Meeting and TTV.