1,500 translators and scholars from 76 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony of the eighteenth International Federation of Translators (FIT) World Congress today at the Shanghai International Convention Center. The theme of the congress is translation and cultural diversity.

Mr. Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office and director of the congress organizing committee, and Mr. Peter W. Krawutschke, outgoing president of FIT, addressed the opening ceremony. Mr. Cai Mingzhao, vice minister of the State Council Information Office and vice director of the congress organizing committee, and Mr. Zhou Mingwei, executive vice president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG) attended the ceremony. Also present were Mr. Liu Xiliang, Chairman of the Translation Association of China (TAC), Mr. Guo Xiaoyong, vice Chairman of TAC, Dondrup Wangboin, vice director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and other senior translators, including Tang Wensheng, and Shi Xiaoyan.

There will be four keynote speeches and the congress will organize 88 sub-forums covering a comprehensive range of topics. Concurrently with the FIT World Congress, the China International Translation Industry Exhibition organized by TAC and the Shanghai Oriental Translation Center will be held at the Shanghai International Convention Center from August 4 to 7.

(China.org.cn August 4, 2008)