TAC annual conference held in Changsha

The 2024 annual conference of the Translators Association of China (TAC) opened in Changsha, Hunan province, on Saturday.

The event brought together nearly 1,000 people from the translation field, including representatives from government departments, enterprises, universities, and research institutes to discuss ways to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning.

Du Zhanyuan, president of the Translators Association of China (TAC) and China International Communications Group (CICG), speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2024 TAC annual conference in Changsha, Hunan province, on March 30, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Du Zhanyuan, president of TAC and China International Communications Group, highlighted the translation industry's growing influence, enhanced professional cohesion, and technological innovation over the past year.

TAC will remain committed to driving industry development, strengthening international communication capabilities, and facilitating cultural exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations, Du said.

Alison Rodriguez, president of the International Federation of Translators, speaks at the 2024 TAC annual conference via video on March 30, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Alison Rodriguez, president of the International Federation of Translators, addressed the event via video. She said she hopes TAC would take a leading role in the industry, address the challenges posed by digital technology, leverage technological advancements, and ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the translation sector. She also called for collaboration with regional and international translation communities to advance cultural exchanges and cooperation, so as to make greater contributions to mutual learning and understanding.

Gao Anming, executive vice president and secretary general of the Translators Association of China (TAC) and vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), chairs the opening ceremony of the 2024 TAC annual conference in Changsha, Hunan province, on March 30, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

At the opening ceremony, 13 translators were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Translation, 73 were given the Senior Translators Award, 125 were given the Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Translators Award, and eight received the Outstanding Foreign Translation Expert Award.

The opening event saw the publishing of annual reports for the translation and language service sector as well as the release of industry specifications. A certification ceremony for translation service accredited enterprises was also held.

Themed on "Promoting Cultural Exchange and Mutual Learning: Mission of the Translation Community," the two-day event featured nearly 30 themed forums and dialogues as well as promo events to facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences and showcase the achievements of the translation industry.

Founded in 1982, TAC is China's only national-level social organization dedicated to the translation field.