On April 14th, 2021, at the invitation of SFL, Ms. Xu Yanan, former Director-General of Department of Translation and Interpretation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave a lecture entitled “Translation and Interpretation for Foreign Affairs” at the 64^th Foreign Language Forum in Tongji.  Xu’s previous positions include Chief of the Chinese Service of the Translation Services under the Documentation Division of UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) as well as former Ambassador of China to Trinidad and Tobago. Moderated by SFL Dean WU Yun, the lecture drew a full house with students and teachers.

Ambassador Xu’s decades of work experience in foreign affairs brings forward a broad international perspective and solid translation and interpretation skills. Witnessing China’s diplomatic journey over the past century, Ambassador Xu shared valuable first-hand materials collected in her years of career. She drew vivid examples in foreign affairs translation and pointed out that the essential quality needed is acumen – able to understand the subtleness of languages, quick in sensing political positions and shifts plus keen to protect national interests. The lecture is more than experience-sharing in translating for foreign affairs, but rather a window to broaden students’ horizons which help them better understand the significance of translation for foreign affairs in building up the national image.

A Q&A session concluded the lecture and all participants found it insightful for future learning and practice of translation and interpretation.