Guests discuss Chinese literature going global at a symposium held in Beijing on Feb 25.

A symposium on Chinese literature going global was held at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing on Feb 25 during the 35th Beijing Book Fair.

Yuan Nan, editor-in-chief of Yilin Press, discussed the overall situation around the overseas publication of original literature works published by Yilin Press.

Yuan Nan, editor-in-chief of Yilin Press, delivers a speech at the symposium.

According to Yuan, as of the end of 2022, Yilin Press had exported 603 copyrights and done business with more than 130 publishing institutions in over 40 countries involving 36 languages.

Yilin has been listed among the top 100 publishers with the most titles collected by overseas libraries for seven consecutive years and among China's top cultural product overseas sales enterprises for the past eight years, noted Yuan.

Shi Zhanjun, Xu Zechen, Lu Min, Dave Haysom, and other guests shared their thoughts on Chinese literature going global.

Writer Shi talked about the introduction of Chinese literature to the world with the success of more than 10 language versions of the People's Literature magazine.

He suggested finding common values cherished by readers around the world and believes that literature is the best way to strike a chord with global readers.

Writer Xu holds that Chinese writers should change the way they think about composition and find their own distinct styles.

He also suggested that Chinese writers should make use of the narrative techniques of traditional Chinese literature in their creations and proposed using a Chinese style in their works.

Writer Lu noted that she was pleased to learn that overseas translators and readers have shifted their interest in Chinese literature from novelty to the work itself and that she is thankful for the sincerity of overseas translators and readers' love for Chinese culture and interest in China.

Translator Dave Haysom talks about translations being more easily accepted by target readers at the symposium.

Translator Haysom talked about translations being more easily accepted by target readers and his views on the overseas spread of Chinese literature.

He said that small and independent overseas publishing houses and readers should play a significant role in promoting Chinese literature to the world.