Forum on 70 Years of Translation in New China & 2019 China Association of Translation and Translation Studies Annual Meeting - Special Forum “China’ s Railway Going Global: Language Services and Discourse Communication” Successfully Concluded

On the afternoon of November 9, 2019, the special forum “China’ s Railway Going Global: Language Services and Discourse Communication,” organized by the School of Languages and Communication Studies at Beijing Jiaotong University as part of the Forum on 70 Years of Translation in New China and the 2019 China Association of Translation and Translation Studies Annual Meeting, was successfully held at the Beijing Century Golden Resources Hotel.

The forum was chaired by Professor Liu Wei, the discipline lead for foreign languages at the School of Languages and Communication Studies, Beijing Jiaotong University. The opening speech was delivered by former Chinese Ambassador to Sweden and New Zealand, Chen Mingming. Experts including Luo Chuanbao, Director of the News Division of the Propaganda Department of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., Dai Ruoyu, Director of the Translation Center at the School of Foreign Languages of Southwest Jiaotong University, and Associate Professors Yao Yazhi and Liu Kai from the School of Languages and Communication Studies at Beijing Jiaotong University, delivered reports and engaged in discussions. Attendees also included Wang Hongying, Party Secretary of the School of Languages and Communication Studies, Deputy Secretary Gao Yongfeng, Director of Graduate English Department Wang Jianrong, and faculty members from the Department of European and Asian Languages such as Zhu Mingshan and Zhao Ting.

In his opening speech, Ambassador Chen Mingming noted that China’ s high-speed rail technology and production capacity are approaching world-leading levels, and the “going global” of China’ s railway is a crucial component of the Belt and Road Initiative. He emphasized that this process requires a large number of interdisciplinary talents proficient in both language and industry expertise. Translation and language services hold significant potential in this field, and Beijing Jiaotong University, leveraging its disciplinary strengths in talent cultivation and development, is well-positioned to play a leading role. The forum vividly reflects the proactive efforts of universities and disciplines to address national and societal needs.

During the forum presentations, Director Luo Chuanbao provided a comprehensive and multi-dimensional overview of the achievements in China’ s high-speed rail development. He highlighted the critical responsibilities of the propaganda department in promoting China’ s railway internationally and offered suggestions for language services and international communication in this process. Associate Professor Dai Ruoyu focused on the translation of railway technical specifications in the context of China’ s railway going global. Using detailed case studies, he pointed out existing linguistic issues in the international dissemination of railway technical standards and stressed the role of translators as guardians of language norms. Associate Professor Yao Yazhi, from the perspective of translation service purchasers, analyzed the quality control requirements for translating railway engineering technical standards and provided recommendations for purchasers in managing translation quality. Associate Professor Liu Kai, based on an overview of global public opinion on China's railway, highlighted certain biases and emotional tendencies in overseas media coverage of China’ s high-speed rail expansion and proposed valuable communication strategies for Chinese railways and other enterprises operating abroad.

The interactive session at the end of the forum was highly engaging. The professors addressed questions from the audience from professional perspectives, drawing on their practical experience.

This forum represents another proactive effort by the School of Languages and Communication Studies at Beijing Jiaotong University, leveraging the characteristics of its disciplines in language and communication, to contribute to talent cultivation and address major national and societal needs. It achieved significant success. As language paves the way for the Belt and Road Initiative and effective communication follows its methods, the disciplines of language and communication will continue to provide “soft power” support for China’ s railway going global.

On November 8, Beijing Jiaotong University and China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will focus on the goals and tasks of building China into a country with strong transportation infrastructure and prioritizing railway development, establish a comprehensive strategic partnership, promote the deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application in the railway sector, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. The School of Languages and Communication Studies will continue to leverage its disciplinary strengths to provide intellectual support for China’ s railway in areas such as language services, communication strategy, and transportation public opinion.