Awards commend voices bridging East and West

The 18th Special Book Awards of China were announced on Tuesday in Beijing, recognizing the significant role of foreign authors, translators and publishers in promoting Chinese experiences, thought and culture overseas.

This year's awards honored six authors, six translators and four publishers from 12 countries, marking the highest accolade for foreigners in the publishing circle. Established in 2005, the awards have since recognized a total of 219 recipients from 63 countries. The award ceremony is a highlight of the annual Beijing International Book Fair, which is scheduled to run until Sunday.

During Tuesday's ceremony, recipients emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges, mutual learning and collaboration in academia and publishing.

Sinologist Martin Kern, a professor in the Department of East Asian Studies at Princeton University and co-director of the International Center for the Study of Ancient Text Cultures at Renmin University of China, was among those honored. Kern has dedicated his career to advancing research in Chinese classical studies and fostering dialogue between the study of Chinese classics and classical traditions in other world civilizations. He is the general editor of the 17-volume book series Studies in the History of Chinese Texts and has authored works including The Stele Inscriptions of Ch'in Shih-huang: Text and Ritual in Early Chinese Imperial Representation.

Kern said he viewed his work in Chinese classical studies as an integral part of the global academic community, interconnected across the humanities and linked with colleagues in China and scholars worldwide.

Giorgio Erick Sinedino de Araujo, an executive committee member of the International Confucian Association and a faculty member of the University of Macau, was also recognized. He has been instrumental in introducing ancient Chinese thought into the Portuguese-speaking community, helping readers understand the modern relevance of classical Chinese works such as The Analects of Confucius and Tao Te Ching.

He said studies into China have become a foundational area of knowledge for understanding the current state of the world.

Erik Robert Nilsson, a writer and senior journalist from China Daily, received an award for his focus on contemporary China's development and transformation.

"Rather than a recognition of what I've done, I feel this award is a call to do more. For me, this isn't just about telling but also living China stories. There are so many stories left to tell — and to live," he said.

fangaiqing@chinadaily.com.cn