"A bridge for cultural rapprochement".. Details of the sessions of the International Translation Forum 2025

Continue International Translation Forum 2025, organized by Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority under the slogan "From Saudi ArabiaWe translate the future"The first session, entitled "Cultural transformations in translation: a reading of the Saudi-Chinese experience" The dimensions of cultural exchange between the two kingdoms and the role of translation in building bridges of knowledge and enhancing human communication, with the participation of Dr. Najah Suleiman, a professor at Ain Shams University who specializes in translation and literary comparative studies, while the dialogue was moderated by Rashid Al-Jibreen from the Ministry of Culture, amid a remarkable presence of researchers, translators, academics and those interested in linguistic and cultural studies.

Dr. Najah Suleiman indicated that the general Saudi-Chinese cultural program launched by the Ministry of Culture is one of the most prominent initiatives aimed at consolidating Cultural relations between the two countries, through various projects and initiatives that include translation, publishing, arts, and the exchange of academic and professional experiences.

The Saudi-Chinese Experience

Soliman stressed that translation today has become a cultural practice that contributes to shaping collective awareness and building the cultural image of peoples, and that the Saudi-Chinese experience represents an advanced model of knowledge cooperation based on respect and mutual interaction between the two cultures.

She indicated that the growing Saudi interest in translation from and into Chinese reflects the strategic shift that The Kingdom is witnessing the strengthening of its cultural presence globally, through large-scale translation initiatives and projects launched by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority, which have contributed to enriching the Arab library with various Chinese works in philosophy, science, history and literature, in exchange for a growing interest in China in translating modern Saudi literature and studying its intellectual and human features.

The session stressed that translation is a vital bridge for rapprochement between languages and cultures, through joint projects that bring together Saudi and Chinese translators in various literary and cultural fields, reflecting the depth of human ties between them. The two countries.

Modern Saudi Literature

The session also reviewed models of mutual translations between the Arabic and Chinese languages, which included transferring the masterpieces of classical Chinese literature into Arabic, and translating modern Saudi literature into Chinese, which contributes to expanding the horizons of knowledge exchange and enhancing the mutual cultural presence.

The session witnessed an interactive discussion among the attendees about the challenges of translating Arabic literature into Chinese and vice versa, and ways to develop training and qualification programs for translators, and enhance the presence of Saudi translations. In Asian markets through partnerships with major Chinese publishing houses.

The participants stressed that the cultural relationship between Saudi Arabia and China has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which gave culture and translation a pivotal place in promoting cultural communication and openness of knowledge, describing translation as a strategic tool in building bridges of understanding between peoples, and a main pillar in transferring experiences and expanding academic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Translation Arts Literary

The second session was entitled "The Arts of Literary Translation: Language Feelings and the Language of Feelings" A wide presence of translators, researchers and those interested in cultural affairs, with the participation of translator and writer Muhammad Ait Hanna, Dr. Salvador Peña from the University of Malaga in Spain, and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Fraih from King Saud University, and the dialogue was moderated by Professor Nasiba Al-Qassar from the Kuwait National Library.

The session addressed the aesthetic and creative dimensions in translating literary texts between different languages and cultures, indicating that literary translation is no longer limited to literal transfer as in the past. Rather, it has come to reflect a deeper understanding of the text and its cultural and emotional meanings, and that the translator has become a partner in creativity, conveying the feeling and cultural essence of the original text, in a process that requires high linguistic and cultural sensitivity and the ability to balance honesty and creativity.

The session stressed that literary translation is one of the most important bridges that connect civilizations and contributes to enhancing cultural understanding and human rapprochement, stressing the need to invest in qualifying translators and refining their skills in a way that enhances the translation industry. in the Kingdom and the Arab world, and enables them to contribute to the transmission of international knowledge and literature in a professional manner.

The participants stressed that creativity in translation does not mean going beyond the original text, but rather dealing with it in an artistic spirit that achieves a balance between honesty and accuracy on the one hand, and beauty and style on the other hand, pointing out that the literary translator plays a creative role no less than the author in reformulating the artistic experience in a new language that takes into account the specificity of cultures and the differences in creative environments.

Laughter in a language Other

And in the third session entitled "Laughter in another language: Translating comedy across cultures"The participants discussed the cultural and linguistic dimensions of translating comedy and the challenges facing conveying the sense of humor between peoples while preserving the original meaning and impact of the text, with the participation of Dr. Abeer Al-Qahtani from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, and Dr. Sarah Ramospinto from the British University of Leeds, while the dialogue was moderated by Dr. Abeer Al-Fifi from King Abdulaziz University, in the presence of a diverse group of translators, researchers, and those interested in cultural and linguistic affairs.

The session showed that translating comedy It is one of the most complex branches of translation, due to its heavy reliance on cultural differences and social contexts that may not have a direct counterpart in the target language, stressing that humor is not only a linguistic element, but rather a reflection of society’s culture, perceptions, and values.

She explained that the comedy translator faces a double challenge of preserving the meaning on the one hand, and conveying the psychological impact and creative rhythm of the text on the other hand, which requires a deep awareness of the cultural environment of the original text and the target audience to ensure the success of the transfer process without losing the spirit. The satirical or local character of the text.

The International Translation Forum 2025 confirmed through these sessions that translation is not just a linguistic process, but rather a comprehensive civilizational project that contributes to building cultural awareness and consolidating human communication among peoples, and strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a leading global knowledge center in developing the translation industry and international cultural communication, keeping pace with technical and cultural transformations and translating the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in building a knowledge economy open to the world.

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