TWENTY sinologists from 16 countries were awarded for their contributions in popularizing Chinese books at the 9th Special Book Award of China held in Beijing at the end of August.

    The national-level award was set up by the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) in 2005 for foreign writers, translators or publishers who made contributions in popularizing Chinese books or promoting cultural exchange between China and the world. At the award’s 10th anniversary, the organizer increased the number of winners from 10 to 15, set up a Youth Award for five winners and expanded the scope of candidates. This year, the winners were selected out of 177 candidates.

    The winners of the award were Australian sinologist and writer Colin Patrick Mackerras, Australian translator and professor of sinology John Makeham, Canadian writer Lisa Carducci, Chinese-French translator and writer Francois Cheng, French sinologist Joël Bellassen, German sinologist Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer, Dutch translator and sinologist Wilt Idema, Laotian writer Keo Mackaphonh, Mongolian translator and professor Menerel Chimedtseye, Polish publisher Adam Marszalek, Russian sinologist and translator Leonard Perelomov, Slovakian translator Marina Čarnogurská, Spanish publisher Angel Fernandez, American publisher Robert Baensch and American sinologist Guy Salvatore Alitto.

    In addition, Egyptian publisher Ahmed Sayyid, Chinese-Burmese translator Guang Min, Hungarian translator Zombory Klara, Jordanian writer and translator Samir Ahmed and American translator Eric Abrahamsen won the Youth Award.

    Even now, most foreign readers know little about contemporary Chinese literature. In a recent interview with the Beijing Times, well-known writers such as Yu Hua and Xu Zechen complained that it is difficult to find Chinese literary works in bookstores abroad. Foreign translators and publishers perform an important role in cultural exchange.

    Zhang Zehui, deputy director of the Import Management Division in GAPP, said at the press conference that more foreign translators, publishers and writers are making contributions to cultural exchange between China and the world, so they increased the number of winners as an encouragement.

    Eric Abrahamsen said at the conference that he decided to live in Beijing in 2001 and worked as an English editor for a Chinese literature magazine. He hoped to help more people in Western countries learn about the real situation in Chinese literature.

    “Chinese publishing companies want to expand their overseas influence, but foreign publishing companies know little about Chinese literature. So we are just the power to help them,” he said.

    Lisa Carducci, who won a national-level French award with her translation of “Wolf Totem,” also said at the conference that she enjoyed her work and life in China very much.

    “China is my motherland right now. I feel like I’m home when I stay in China. I hope to help other foreigners learn more about Chinese people and Chinese culture and make them feel happy when they are in China, just like what I feel,” she said.

    Zombory Klara, a translator for books by Mo Yan, Yu Hua and several other noted contemporary Chinese writers, said that since Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize for Literature, more Hungarian readers are paying attention to contemporary Chinese literature, but there aren’t enough translated works to meet their needs.

    “In the past, many readers in my country knew nothing about Chinese contemporary writers. They only knew several classic writers like Lu Xun and Lao She. Now, with my translation works and works by my professors and other translators, Hungarian readers are meeting a new and different world — the world of China. Many readers are deeply attracted to the fancy words and interesting stories of Chinese writers,” she said.(Xinhua)