Beijing: The Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding (SHTAIU) is set to organize an inaugural international conference on Arabic-Chinese translation in Beijing. This event will see participation from a group of academics and translators from China.
According to Qatar News Agency, the conference is part of a broader tour in China by the Sheikh Hamad Award delegation, running until September 26. This visit coincides with the inclusion of Chinese as a new language for the 2026 edition of the award.
The event, themed on the realities and challenges of Arabic-Chinese translation, will be hosted by the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). As the first academic event on this subject organized in China by a non-Chinese institution, it marks a significant cultural milestone, underlining the award’s role in fostering cultural connections between East and West.
The conference will begin with opening remarks from BFSU Vice President Prof. Liu Xinlu and the Award’s Media Officer Abdulrahman Al Marri. The first session will discuss translation, literature, and heritage, featuring professors from Peking University, Guangzhou University, and the University of International Business and Economics. Their presentations will cover topics such as the translation of Arabic and Islamic literature, the Holy Quran, and the integration of Chinese heritage in Arabic.
The second session will explore translation as a conduit for education and civilization, including an Arabic artistic presentation by students. It will also involve discussions on teaching Arabic in Chinese universities, cultural cooperation, and the Zhou Kai Educational Fund’s role in supporting translation initiatives.
The SHTAIU stated that this conference marks a significant step in the award’s journey, uniting expertise in translation, literature, and civilization to foster academic and cultural cooperation between the Arab and Chinese worlds.
The delegation’s visit seeks to bolster the award’s presence in China’s academic and cultural sectors and to promote translation as a means of cultural communication. It also aims to establish the award as a leading international platform for translation and international understanding.
The visit to Beijing includes a program of academic and cultural activities, with meetings with translators and academics, including previous Chinese award winners from 2018 and 2021. The delegation will also tour key academic and cultural institutions related to translation and Arabic studies, such as the International Confucian Association and Peking University.
The delegation’s next stop will be in Shanghai, where they will engage with translators, cultural exchange institutions, and publishing houses focused on Arabic translation. Additionally, an academic meeting at Shanghai International Studies University will address challenges in Arabic-Chinese translation and strategies for its development.