Chinese-Arabic translation contest kicks off in Cairo

Egypt's National Center for Translation (NCT) and the Chinese Culture Center in Cairo announced on Tuesday launching a contest to translate a Chinese novel into Arabic.

The contest mainly includes young translators, said Anwar Mogeith, chairman of the NCT.

"We seek to create and encourage new generation of translators," Mogeith told Xinhua, adding that the contest will be a good opportunity for young talents to gain experience and win the prize at the same time.

He said the participants between 25 and 45 years old could start to download the book on designated website as of June 18.

The translation should be submitted in three months to the headquarters of the NCT for evaluation.

The Chinese Culture Center in Cairo will offer $2,000  to the first place winner and the NCT will be responsible for publication.

The second and third place winners will be granted 1,000 dollars and 500 dollars respectively, while other winners until the 10th place will be rewarded an encouraging prize of 200 dollars, the NCT chairman added.

"The disappearance of a girl named Chen Jianfang" is the title of the Chinese book that tells a story of a young girl who moved from rural area to a city seeking to raise her living standard.

Shi Yifeng, the writer of the book, expressed happiness that his book will be translated for a large population of Arabic-spoken countries.

He added the sad and happy moments of the journey of the girl in his novel mirrored the changes that took place in China.

"Those changes have added to the promotion of literature," the writer said, noting the Egyptian and Arab readers will understand many aspects about China after reading the book.

Mogeith stressed the NCT will promote the book's sales in the coming annual International Book Fair that usually takes place in February each year.

Describing his job as to describe the feelings of the people, Shi said that translation bridges cultural differences of different origins because the human emotions are the same everywhere.

"Language and translation are the best tools of delivering cultures and sharing our works with other people from different countries," he added.

People learned the importance of life from reading books, he added.

Mogeith agreed that literature is a source of knowledge like science, but with more fun, and translation is the certain sign of the unity of the mankind brains.

Meanwhile, Chinese Cultural Counselor to Egypt Shi Yuewen said "translation will give the Egyptians the opportunity to know more about Chinese culture and the Chinese literature in particular."

The contest, in its first edition, will pave the way for the Egyptian translators to learn more about the Chinese modern literature, according to Shi.

"I think the cooperation between two culture centers will bring fruits to the future of the two countries' cooperation," he added.