THE U.K. Government is donating 1.5 million pounds (US$2.44 million) for the translation of all of William Shakespeare’s works into Mandarin for readers in China.

    Plans for cultural cooperation with China also include making 14 important Chinese plays available in English.

    Culture Secretary Sajid Javid also announced that 300,000 pounds will be set aside for a Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) tour of China.

    He said culture was a “brilliant” way of fostering closer U.K.-China ties.

    “This funding means Western and Eastern cultures can learn from and be enriched by one another, and there is no better way of doing that than by using the works of Shakespeare,” said Javid.

    “The package marks a really important step for both China and Britain to grow a strong and progressive relationship.”

    The RSC will undertake the first translation of the bard’s complete works in Mandarin.

    Artistic Director Gregory Doran said, “I profoundly believe that we foster a deeper understanding of culture by sharing and telling each other our stories.

    “Our plans to translate Shakespeare into Mandarin, to see translations and performances of more Chinese classics in Britain and the RCS tour in China will celebrate the arts and culture of both nations,” he added.

    Doran also said that the initiative would help attract more visitors to Britain.

    Britain and China are also planning to use 300,000 pounds for a series of museum exchanges with the British Museum to further foster cultural exchange.(SD-Agencies)