The awards ceremony of the second National Translation Technology Contest & the International Communication and Translation Technology Literacy Promotion Special Event was held in Beijing on Sept 27. 

Beijing International Studies University (BISU) co-organized the contest and the promotional event, together with the Translators Association of China (TAC) and the Academy of Translation and Interpretation under the China International Communications Group (CICG).

In his speech at the ceremony, Gao Anming, editor-in-chief of CICG and executive vice president and secretary-general of TAC spoke of the importance of international communication and the crucial role of translation in it.

He emphasized that all parties need to take practical measures to develop the new quality productive forces in the translation industry and advance its digital transformation and high-quality innovative development by strengthening cooperation and promoting innovation.  

Gao Anming stresses the role of translation in international communication.

Ji Jinbiao, deputy secretary of the CPC BISU Committee and president of the university, praised the progress of translation technology for improving translators' efficiency.  

He also emphasized the importance of knowing the challenges and opportunities brought by artificial intelligence to foreign language teaching and make quick responses to them.  

Ji Jinbiao praises the development of translation technology.

Li Meng, an official at the Academy of Translation and Interpretation under CICG, announced that next year's contest will see Tianjin Foreign Studies University as one of the co-organizers.  

A handover ceremony of the contest flag is held.

A launch ceremony of the International Communication and Translation Technology Literacy Promotion Special Event was held, with Gao, Ji and other leaders jointly starting the special event.

A launch ceremony is held after the awards ceremony.

Speeches were delivered on topics such as language intelligence, language teaching, talents training, large language model and language services.    

Industry insiders attend a roundtable forum after the ceremony.

At the roundtable forum, professors and entrepreneurs discussed and exchanged views on the integration of AI technology into the translation industry, translation technology standardization and the improvement of technical literacy of practitioners in the sector. 

Fifteen experts and scholars made speeches at sub-forums on topics such as the role of AI in cultural dissemination, translation practice and industry-education integration.

Liang Xiaobo, a professor at the National University of Defense Technology, gave a keynote report titled "Revolution or Challenge: Looking at Large Language Models from the Relationship between Language and Thought".  

He believes that large language models can complement human intelligence, thereby achieving a symbiotic state between humans and machines. At the same time, AI supported by large language models will also bring great challenges to human intelligence.

Peng Tianyang, a specially appointed professor at BISU, presented a report titled "Cultivation of Translation Talents in the Era of AI: Adherence and Innovation".

He pointed out that translation educators should adhere to their original mission, insist on practice orientation, embrace the achievements of scientific and technological development and truly integrate technical literacy, an important part of the comprehensive quality of high-end translators, into translation education and teaching, so that the discipline of translation can better serve the country.

The second National Translation Technology Contest was launched in March 2024, aiming to promote translators' learning and use of translation technology.

This competition attracted the participation of nearly 3,000 translation technology enthusiasts and learners from nearly 400 universities, institutions and enterprises, and five first prizes, 10 second prizes, 20 third prizes, 50 excellent awards were given and one winning team in the machine track, 39 outstanding organizational units and 30 outstanding guidance teachers were selected.