Xu Yuanchong, a distinguished Chinese literature translator, on Friday received the "Aurora Borealis Prize", which was conferred on him earlier by the International Federation of Translators (FIT).

The award was presented to the 93-year-old translator by the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, the Translators Association of China (TAC), and China Academy of Translation, which acted on behalf of the FIT.

Xu, a professor with Peking University, is the first Asian translator to receive the prize since it was introduced in 1999.

Xu said the award not only meant his translation was recognized by the world but also indicated that Chinese literature had been attracting more attention worldwide. "I just simply enjoy translating Chinese, English and French literature," he said.

Xu, who has been known for his outstanding translation of works of ancient poets into English and French, also translated Mao Zedong's poems into the two languages after 1958.

In addition to translating classical Chinese poetry into foreign languages, Xu was also involved in the translation of many British and French literary works into Chinese, including Flaubert's Madame Bovary.

Xu is now working on the complete works of Shakespeare. "I plan to finish the translation in about five years," he said.

Xu was awarded a lifetime achievement in translation prize by the TAC in 2010.

The FIT 20th World Congress held in Berlin on August 2 decided to confer the "Aurora Borealis" on Xu, who was unable to attend the event due to his age.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2014)