To press ahead with the initiative of studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further enhance the translation proficiency of Beijing's foreign affairs officials and improve the city's international language environment, the 2023 Workshop for Translation and International Language Environment Improvement was recently held.

The workshop, jointly organized by Beijing Foreign Affairs Office and Beijing International Studies University (BISU), aimed to help foreign affairs officials from all districts and fields to enhance their professional competence and remove the language barriers in their work by providing them with useful, practical, and effective training. Innovative organizational methods and courses have yielded favorable outcomes and received positive feedback from the participants.

Accessible online and offline

Innovative organization. Building on the success of previous online translation training, the workshop this year was conducted through both online and offline channels. The offline training provided opportunity for over 40 foreign affairs officials from various sectors to interact face-to-face with teachers and classmates, making the training more effective. In addition, to make full use of the training resources, all courses were live-streamed online, creating an accessible study platform for nearly 200 foreign affairs officials from Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province.

Comprehensive and systematic

Informative courses. The workshop included not only courses on the regulations on improving the language environment for international exchanges and common mistranslations of signs, but also courses on the strategies and skills for translating political terminologies with Chinese characteristics and important policy documents. Additionally, courses were also given on artificial intelligence-assisted translation, spreading excellent Chinese culture, and diplomatic protocol. These topics were selected to equip participants with the professional competence and comprehensive qualities required for foreign affairs translation in the new era.

Highly interactive

More effective hands-on training. Instructors combined pre-class exercises with classroom lectures to help participants gain a better understanding through ample practice and improve their hands-on performance. Participants were also encouraged to share experience and learn from each other through group discussions and after-class communication, to get insights for solving real-world problems.

Learning by applying

Innovative assessment. To encourage trainees to apply the knowledge acquired from the courses, they were asked to present foreign affairs themed plays in groups as the final outcome of their training. Drawing inspiration from the work they do, the participants wrote, directed and acted in their own plays, displaying the strong political commitment, outstanding professional competence, and high morale of the capital's foreign affairs officials. The wonderful performance won constant applause from the audience.

The workshop has deepened the participants' understanding of the current task of improving the international language environment and their roles and responsibilities. With improved skills and capability in translation and telling Beijing's stories, they are better prepared to contribute to the strengthening of Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges. Here are some comments from the participants.

Zhao Yunyan (Beijing Municipal Medical Products Administration): The training made me realize that being a good foreign affairs translator requires not only exceptional language skills but also strong political commitment and comprehensive qualities.

Zhao Hong (Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center): The workshop was highly informative, featuring focused, high-quality, and practical lectures given by the leading experts and scholars in translation. This will help us do a better job in contributing to the strengthening of Beijing's role as a center for international exchanges.

Wang Yu (Beijing Overseas Talents Center): The workshop has been a very rewarding experience. I will keep honing my professional skills and strive for excellence in translation, so as to contribute to the development of the capital in the new era.

Zhao Hanqing (Foreign Affairs Office of Chaoyang District Government): Building on what I have learned from the workshop, I will continue to pursue self-improvement and tell the stories of China and Beijing to the world with greater enthusiasm and higher standards.