Fifty outstanding Chinese translators were awarded last Friday by the Translators Association of China (TAC) at a ceremony held in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
The crowned translators were recommended by 15 departments for foreign affairs including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Ministry of Culture. They have been engaged in translation for more than 30 years.
According to Song Shushen, head of TAC, many of the recipients worked as interpreters for Chinese leaders in the 1950s and 1960s, and have translated a batch of important diplomatic documents and political essays. Veteran diplomats Pu Shouchang, Yan Mingfu and Ji Chaozhu are among those awarded.
In his speech of congratulation, Yang Zhengquan, vice minister of the Information Office of the State Council, pointed out the important role played by translators in this new era of opening up and globalization and encouraged young translation staff to inherit the diligence of the old generation in order to improve the translation work in China.
Vice Premier Qian Qichen and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Xu Jialu were present at the awarding ceremony.
(CIIC 01/16/2001)
