English Editions of "A General History of China (New Edition)" and "A Concise Reader of Chinese Civilization" Released

CSSN.Cn News (Reporter Wang Chunyan): On June 18, coinciding with the opening of the 31st Beijing International Book Fair, a ceremony was held in Beijing for the launch of the English editions of An Outline of the (Newly Compiled) General History of China and A Concise Reader on the History of Chinese Civilization, organized by the China Social Sciences Press.

Li Guoqiang, Member of the Academic Division of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Vice President of the Chinese Academy of History ^[1], stated that as the lead unit of the "Newly Compiled General History of China Compilation Project"—a major national-level cultural initiative and a key project within the National 14th Five-Year Plan—the Chinese Academy of History shoulders the responsibility and mission of deepening the research and interpretation of Chinese history and the history of Chinese civilization, as well as telling the story of Chinese history and culture effectively. He noted that these two volumes attempt to lead readers through the long river of history using an accessible narrative style, allowing them to perceive the vicissitudes of successive eras and observe social transformations. It is hoped that by looking back at history, the historical consciousness ^[2] and cultural confidence ^[3] of the entire Party and society will be further enhanced, providing deep roots, fertile soil, and nourishment for unswervingly following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He expressed hope that through the translation and international promotion of these two works, people of all nations will gain an understanding of Chinese history and civilization, enabling the world to "read" and comprehend China’s past and present. By using these two works to build a bridge for dialogue between different civilizations, they aim to inject strong momentum into the exchange and mutual learning between human civilizations ^[4] and contribute "Chinese power" to the progress and prosperity of human civilization.

Zhao Jianying, President of the China Social Sciences Press, remarked that both An Outline of the (Newly Compiled) General History of China and A Concise Reader on the History of Chinese Civilization are grounded in the latest achievements of historical research and archaeological discoveries in the New Era. They present an objective and authentic Chinese history from various dimensions—political, economic, cultural, and ethnic—and elucidate the spiritual values and profound historical and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. These works transform the latest historical research into concise readers that balance readability with academic rigor, earning widespread attention and high praise from various sectors of society, as well as numerous awards and honors. Currently, contracts have been signed for the translation of these two books into 14 languages, including English, French, Russian, Kazakh, Bengali, and Sinhala. The release of the English editions will establish a cultural bridge that "fuses the ancient and the modern, and integrates China and the West," helping foreign readers better recognize the historical connotations and contemporary value of Chinese civilization. It will also assist them in better understanding Chinese civilization’s prominent characteristics: its continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature ^[5], thereby promoting exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations. China Social Sciences Press will continue to advance the translation and international communication of these two books to better tell China’s story and make China’s voice heard globally.

Niels Peter Thomas, President of Global Books at Springer Nature, stated that China Social Sciences Press is an important strategic partner for Springer Nature. Over the years, the two sides have maintained a close and positive cooperation, co-publishing more than 70 titles. The English editions of these two books demonstrate the uniqueness and global significance of the new form of human advancement ^[6], helping international readers and scholars further deepen their cognition and understanding of Chinese history and culture. In the future, Springer Nature will further deepen its cooperation with China Social Sciences Press to co-publish more outstanding works.

The event was moderated by Zhu Huabin, Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of China Social Sciences Press. Wang Gangyi, Executive Vice President of the Translators Association of China; Zhu Hu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ancient History of CASS; and Liu Zifan, Researcher at the Institute of Historical Theory of CASS, shared their views and held discussions on the academic significance and translation value of the two books as representatives of experts, scholars, and authors.