The event was attended by representatives of the Chinese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Writers' Association, publishing units, translators and businesses operating in the book sector of the two countries.
The event is part of a series of activities "Vietnam - China Literary Exchange 2026", towards the 76th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, and at the same time opens up opportunities to promote publishing, translation and cultural exchange cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking at the opening of the program, writer Trinh Bich Ngan - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers' Association - emphasized that international integration in literature is a process of exchange, adaptation and promotion of literary values between countries to expand creative space and affirm national identity in the international arena.
According to her, bringing Vietnamese literature to the world not only contributes to enhancing the position of national literature but also enriches the spiritual life of international readers.
Writer Trinh Bich Ngan cited statistics that in nearly 60 years, from 1949 to 2006, only about 150 Vietnamese literary books were translated and published in China. Typical works such as "The Tale of Kieu", "Red Number", "Chi Pheo" were once present in the book market of the neighboring country, but this number is still quite modest compared to the potential for cultural exchange between the two countries.
“That situation requires persistent efforts from publishing units, private book companies and especially the team of translators to bring Vietnamese literature closer to international readers,” writer Trinh Bich Ngan shared.
At the program, Ms. Nguyen Le Chi - Director of Chi Culture Joint Stock Company (Chibooks) - shared her experience in bringing Vietnamese books to the Chinese market. According to her, this process requires a deep understanding of culture, reader tastes, as well as close connection with international publishers.
In recent years, through cooperation activities with Chinese partners, Chibooks has introduced hundreds of Vietnamese books on the China - ASEAN copyright trading platform to seek opportunities for translation and distribution in the Chinese market.
Representatives of Chinese publishing units also introduced many books looking for opportunities to be published in Vietnam, spanning fields such as life skills, science and technology, children, art and culture.
In addition to the copyright introduction part, the program also has live Q&A sessions between representatives of publishing houses of the two countries on the issue of translation, distribution and copyright protection of books in the digital environment.
According to the delegates attending, one of the biggest challenges today is the lack of a team of professional translators who are both proficient in foreign languages and deeply understand the culture of both countries. In addition, the funding for translation and promotion of works abroad is still limited.
Many opinions suggest that, in order for Vietnamese literature to have a clearer position in the international market, it is necessary to build a long-term strategy for translation, promote digital transformation in publishing and strengthen funds to support bringing Vietnamese works to the world.
Not only stopping at copyright trade activities, the exchange is also considered an opportunity to strengthen the connection between the literary and publishing circles of Vietnam and China, contributing to promoting cultural understanding, friendship and long-term cooperation between the two countries.
