Ukrainian linguist keen to translate Chinese books

Iryna Yaremchuk (left) attends a program in Beijing for young Sinologists organized by the Culture Ministry. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Iryna Yaremchuk is in Beijing on a visiting program for young Sinologists that has been organized by the Culture Ministry and the think tank Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"It's a very good chance to meet Sinologists from different countries. We know our problems and learn from each other during such exchanges," says the 36-year-old Ukrainian linguist.

The program, which began on July 3 and ends on Friday, aims to assist foreign Sinologists with their research work as well as let them experience Chinese culture.

It also includes lectures by well-known Chinese scholars such as Liu Xinwu.

Yaremchuk, who has been studying Chinese culture, history and literature, says she was intrigued by Liu's talk, which focused on the Chinese classic A Dream of Red Mansions.

"The book is very interesting, and I really like his (Liu's) way of explaining culture," she says, adding that Liu helped her appreciate the traditional culture depicted in the book.

Yaremchuk, who teaches Persian and Ukrainian languages at the Ivan Franko Lviv State University in Ukraine, says her dream is to become a translator of Chinese literary works for readers back home.

She chose translation of Chinese literature as her project for the visiting program, partnering with the Beijing Language and Culture University for research.