Cairo: The National Translation Centre, led by Mohamed Nasr El-Gebali, is intensifying its efforts to promote international collaboration in translation to support the exchange of knowledge across languages. In line with this mission, El-Gebali recently met with Vadim Zaichikov, Director of the Russian House in Cairo, to explore ways to bolster joint translation initiatives between Russian and Arabic, thereby opening new avenues for the exchange of books and knowledge between Egyptian and Russian cultures.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting focused on several proposed areas of cooperation. Key among these is the support for reciprocal translation between the two languages, alongside exploring methods to ensure intellectual property rights for books chosen for translation. This initiative aims to make a wider range of intellectual, literary, and cultural works accessible to both Arab and Russian audiences, fostering translated literature as a genuine bridge for dialogue among different peoples.
The discussions emphasized the need for more effective mechanisms for cooperation in translation, moving beyond the mere transfer of texts to the conveyance of ideas, expertise, and perspectives. This approach seeks to provide broader opportunities for exploring the cultural and intellectual contributions of both Egypt and Russia.
During his visit, Zaichikov was introduced to the history of the National Translation Centre and its efforts to make global culture accessible to Arab readers. He examined the centre's diverse range of publications, which span literature, thought, philosophy, history, science, and various other fields of knowledge. Additionally, he visited the sales outlet at the centre's premises to review some of its publications and intellectual projects.
This meeting is part of the centre's broader initiative to expand its network of cultural partnerships, positioning translation as a platform for dialogue and rapprochement. It underscores the centre's commitment to using translation as a means of discovering and understanding other cultures, beyond merely translating words from one language to another.