Guo Weimin, vice minister of the State Council Information Office, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum on Languages Services for the Belt and Road Initiative and TAC Conference 2017 in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2017. [Photo by Wu Xiaoshan / China.org.cn]

The Forum on Languages Services for the Belt and Road Initiative and TAC Conference 2017 opened in Beijing on Dec. 1, bringing together over 700 representatives from home and abroad.

Organized by China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and hosted by the Translators Association of China (TAC), the two-day event aims to promote the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the country's political discourse system, through language services.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Guo Weimin, vice minister of the State Council Information Office, said the international community is paying increasing attention to the changes underway in China and how its rise will influence the world.

"Translation practitioners are now enjoying a broader platform yet with stricter requirements to help the world understand China correctly," he said.

Guo also suggested sound development of the translation sector should be achieved by speeding up well-conceived planning, establishment of standards, as well as cultivation of high-end talent. 

Guo's remarks were echoed by Zhang Fuhai, president of CIPG, governing body of the TAC, who said the Belt and Road Initiative brings opportunities for discourse system development of terms with Chinese characteristics as well as the growth of the language service industry.

Zhang urged the translation sector to seize the opportunity to better connect China and the world and to enhance China's connectivity, understanding and friendship with countries along the Belt and Road.  

Zhou Mingwei, president of TAC and the China Academy of Translation (CATL), said the association would seek to promote deep integration of the internet, big data, artificial intelligence and the translation sector. 

Kevin Quirk, president of the International Federation of Translators (FIT) said the sector could serve the Belt and Road Initiative in more extensive ways. Translators play an important role in multicultural communication where it was essential to respect diversities. 

More than 30 various sub-forum meetings will be held during the event.