The translation, conducted by Chen Qian, was sponsored by the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macau).
This initiative aimed to “build a spiritual bridge between Sino-Lusophone cultures through literature and promote exchanges between different civilizations,” stated the Secretary-General of the Forum Macau, Ji Xianzheng.
The founder of the publisher Os Macaenses Publicações, responsible for the book’s publication in Macau, expressed regret that Angolan literature remains a “still unexplored territory” among Chinese readers.
Cyan Cheong In Cheng hopes that the release of João Melo’s work will mark the beginning of a “cultural dialogue” between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
In addition to the edition in traditional Chinese characters presented in Macau, a version in simplified characters is also set to be released simultaneously in mainland China.
Zhang Qian, editor-in-chief of the Chinese publisher Lijiang Publishing, expressed hope that João Melo’s work will “inject new dynamism into the study of African Lusophone literature” in China.
In a video message sent for the occasion, Angolan writer João Melo congratulated Forum Macau for its “initiative to publish Portuguese-speaking writers” in the Chinese market.
João Melo lamented that African Lusophone literatures are “still not widely disseminated internationally.”
However, on the sidelines of the ceremony, Ji Xianzheng admitted to Lusa that ‘Será Este Livro Um Romance?’ is expected to be the only book translated under the auspices of Forum Macau.
The organization’s request for other Lusophone countries to select a work from their national literature to be the next translated one went unanswered, Ji regretted.
Nevertheless, Ji assured that Forum Macau would continue seeking “other ways to promote cultural exchanges” between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The release of ‘Será Este Livro Um Romance?’ translation took place during the 17th edition of the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Cultural Week, which commenced on September 26.
The cultural week, organized since 2008 by Forum Macau with support from Lusophone associations in the semi-autonomous Chinese region, marked the first year cultural and artistic groups traveled beyond the territory to the neighboring city of Zhongshan and the Chinese capital, Beijing, Ji noted.
Ji Xianzheng was speaking during the opening of an exhibition featuring 27 artworks by 23 Lusophone authors, on display until November 18 at the Gallery of the Institute for Municipal Affairs.
The official revealed that more than 70,000 visitors attended the same exhibition while it was open at the Xiangshan Commercial Culture Museum in Zhongshan from September 29 to October 12.
