Three Lao classic literature works, translated by professor Lu Yunlian, associate professor Li Xiaoyuan and teacher Lu Huiling from the Lao Language Teaching and Research Office at the School of Asian Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), were published at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing on Feb 24.

The books were among the first achievements made in the China-Laos classic works translation project of the Asian Classics Translation Program.

BFSU teachers gather for a photo at a ceremony to launch new books in the China-Laos classics translation project. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The three books: The Life and Revolutionary Cause of Chairman Kaysone Phomvihane, The Two Sisters and The Legend of Khun Borom are Lao classics translated into Chinese for the first time and published in China. The publication is conducive to deepening Chinese readers’ understanding of the history and social culture of Laos, and to promoting the natural bond of affinity, people-to-people communication and mutual learning of civilizations between the two countries.

"It is the first time in the development of the Lao language major at BFSU that the translation of three works was completed in just a few months. The teachers of the translation team have attached great importance to the project and cherished this opportunity. They spared no effort to build a bridge of languages and to contribute to cultural exchanges between the two countries," Lu Yunlian said when she shared stories behind the translating work. 

The Asian Classics Translation Program resulted from the initiative put forward at the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations that focused on promoting cultural translation and mutual learning among 47 Asian countries. So far, China has signed memorandums of translation and publication of classic works with Singapore, Pakistan, South Korea, Iran, Laos, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia and Yemen.