The Confucian Civilization Translation and Communication Center was officially inaugurated in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, on May 18 in a bid to promote the translation and international communication of Confucian classics.

Shandong's Qufu is the hometown of Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher and educator. The center, jointly established by the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration and Shandong University, aims to use the rich cultural heritage of Shandong as its foundation to promote the Confucian culture.

The center houses various institutions, including the Confucian Civilization Translation Compilation Department, the Confucian Civilization Translation Theory Research Department, the Overseas Confucian Studies Department, and the Confucian Translation Practice and Communication Department. Research areas will focus on compiling the translation history of Confucian classics and the development of Confucian studies overseas.

Ma Wen, dean of the School of Foreign Languages and the School of Translation at Shandong University, said that the establishment of the center will help promote mutual learning and exchanges between Chinese and foreign civilizations, addressing some of the current weak links in the research of Confucian civilization translation and communication.

Regarding talent development in translation, Ma said that the center will offer interdisciplinary courses to cultivate versatile professionals with a deep understanding of Confucianism, translation skills, and an international perspective.