China's efforts to develop its southwestern province of Yunnan as a center with radiation effects for South and Southeast Asia have yielded significant results over the past decade, expanding its foreign trade networks and injecting strong momentum into regional economic collaboration.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the construction of the center.
With the arrival of over 200 tons of fruit transported through the Mohan Port in Yunnan from neighboring Laos, the import and export volume via the China-Laos Railway has exceeded 11.5 million tons since it was put into operation in late 2021.
Serving as a crucial international corridor connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia, the railway currently connects 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China, along with Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and 15 other countries and regions. It facilitates the trade of more than 3,000 types of goods.
"Currently, key ports in Yunnan have adopted paperless document submission and electronic circulation systems, saving 50 percent of human resources and reducing customs clearance time by 70 percent. This has helped accelerate Yunnan's development as a new high ground for opening up," said Hao Yanqian, deputy head of the general affairs division at Kunming Customs.
Yunnan's domestic and international air network has expanded to 186 destinations, providing nearly full coverage of the capitals and major tourist cities in South and Southeast Asia.
According to Kunming Customs, the import and export value between Yunnan and South and Southeast Asia countries has increased from 89.79 billion yuan (about 12.32 billion U.S. dollars) in 2015 to 114.62 billion yuan in 2024, a rise of 27.7 percent. For seven consecutive years, the trade volume has surpassed 100 billion yuan, demonstrating Yunnan's role as a national pivotal center for South and Southeast Asia.
Yunnan facilitates country's trade with South and Southeast Asia in past decade
The London Book Fair (LBF), one of the world's premier publishing events, concluded on Thursday, during which industry leaders highlighted the importance of international collaborations and discussed emerging trends, particularly the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in literature.
During the three-day event, more than 30,000 publishing professionals and 1,000 exhibitors across the world showcased flagship titles, signed deals, and engaged in discussions on key industry topics.
This year, over 50 Chinese publishers and book trade companies presented over 4,000 high-quality titles, showcasing co-publishing results or exploring new international cooperation partnerships. They also held 40 activities, including book launches, copyright signings, and reader seminars, underscoring China's commitment to global literary dialogues.
Amid the bustling aisles packed with publishers, literary agents and authors, a perennial question loomed: can AI faithfully translate literature? While technology has reshaped many industries, its role in rendering high-end literature across languages remains contentious.
Among the attendees was Liu Zhenyun, a celebrated Chinese author whose works have been translated into multiple languages. For Liu, the challenge of taking Chinese literature global goes beyond mere words.
"For Chinese literature to go global, it's all about perspective - whether you see China, or a Chinese village, through the world's eyes or view the world from a Chinese village. The two are worlds apart. I believe 'going out' is essential - first as a person, then as a writer. A writer's perspective must broaden, as must their view of the world," he said.
Liu's comments highlight a key tension: translating literature is not just about linguistic accuracy but also about cultural and contextual understanding.
While Chinese literature boasts a rich tradition, it has struggled to capture a truly global audience. Translation remains one of the primary barriers. Technological advancements are beginning to challenge this status quo. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek are being used by some publishers to experiment with literary translation, offering the promise of speed and cost efficiency. With the ability to process vast amounts of text, AI is seen as a potential disruptor in an industry that often struggles with the high costs and time-consuming nature of human translation.
However, the use of AI in literature has sparked resistance from traditionalists. Translator Jack Hargreaves articulated these concerns.
"I welcome AI in many ways and for many uses and functions and applications, but I don't think it necessarily has a beneficial place in literature. I think it's going negative and would detract a lot from the joy of reading in a way, and also the joy of creating. Convenience isn't necessarily going to improve things. It's not an essential quality that leads to a better experience always," he said.
Despite its growing sophistication, AI remains limited when it comes to the nuances of literary translation. The recent Chinese edition of Blades of Grass: The Story of George Aylwin Hogg, launched at this year's London Book Fair, exemplifies these challenges. Translating the story of a British humanitarian working in wartime China required more than linguistic skill. It demanded an intimate understanding of both historical context and cultural nuance. These are areas where human translators still hold a decisive edge over machines.
Yet, the appeal of AI in translation is undeniable. Forecasts suggest that the global AI translation market could grow to 6 billion U.S. dollars by 2031, driven by advancements in natural language processing and the increasing demand for cross-border communication. Still, for many, literature is more than just words. It's art -- crafted not just for meaning, but for feeling.
London Book Fair highlights global literary collaboration, role of AI in translation
