Beijing Review, China Today, China Pictorial and People's China to its international readership. It has also been China's biggest exporter of book copyrights for many years in a row.

Translators and interpreters help break down language barriers as China embraces the world. Thriving translation and interpretation services are indispensable to China's opening up and prosperity.

As an Arabic speaker, how do you evaluate the development of translation and interpretation in Arabic and other non-English languages in China?

While English is a commonly used foreign language, a good mastery of other foreign languages is extremely helpful. China is expanding its relations and economic and cultural exchanges with more and more countries in the world. We need to forge ahead with translation and interpretation in non-English languages. Chinese translators and publishers should devote more attention to publications in these languages to promote cultural diversity and world harmony.

Guo Xiaoyong: Guo worked with Xinhua News Agency as a translator, editor and reporter after he graduated from Shanghai International Studies University in 1976 with a major in Arabic. In 1991, he headed the news agency’s Gulf War reporting team to cover the war on the spot. Since the end of 2002, he has been executive vice president of China International Publishing Group and executive vice president of the Translators Association of China.