Professor ZHU Zhenwu, accompanied by his postdoctoral students, visited the Policy Studies Institute(PSI) on August 6, 2024 as part of an initiative to explore the literary landscape of East Africa. The trip was an important opportunity for Professor ZHU and his team to gain a deeper understanding of the rich cultural and literary heritage of the region.
In a warm welcome, H.E. Prof. Beyene Petros, the Director General of PSI, highlighted the ancient history and literature of Ethiopia, drawing parallels to the deep literary traditions of China. As a gesture of goodwill and to commemorate his visit, Professor ZHU Zhenwu presented a copy of his own work to Prof. Beyene, solidifying the connections between the two countries and scholarly pursuits.
Professor ZHU Zhenwu and Professor Beyene Petros[LR]
Prof. ZHU Zhenwu（Fred） is an honorary professor and doctoral supervisor at Shanghai Normal University (SHNU). He is currently the head of the Key National Discipline of Comparative Literature and World Literature, director of Foreign literature Research Center of SHNU, head of Innovation Research Team on “the Diversity of World Literature and Transfers between Civilizations” in Shanghai, chief expert of the National Major Project titled “History of African Literature in English” and the National Key Project titled “Problems and Strategies of Contemporary Sinologists in English Translations of Chinese literature”.
Professor ZHU Zhenwu and Professor Beyene Petros[LR]
Prof. ZHU Zhenwu specializes in the study of English literature and culture, translation studies, comparative aesthetics of Chinese and foreign novels, and the relationship between Chinese and foreign literary cultures. He is the father of “Chinese African Literaturology”, proposing theories of “Three Diasporas” and “Africanness” in response to the study of African literature. Additionally, he raises theories of the “Non-Mainstream Literature”, “Similarity” and “the Balance of Domestication and Foreignization” respectively for the study of foreign literature, translation, and dissemination of Chinese literary culture at home and abroad.
Prof. ZHU Zhenwu has published over 400 academic papers in high-level journals and newspapers such as Social Sciences in China (including three articles in Chinese and English) and The People’s Daily, and authored 20 books in Chinese or English, as well as translated and edited over 100 works. He has won more than 30 kinds of awards such as “The First Prize of the Eighth Outstanding Achievements in Scientific Research in Colleges and Universities”, the Shanghai Philosophy and Social Science Achievement Awards (three times) and the National Outstanding 'Teacher Award sponsored by the Baosteel Education Fund, etc.
Prof. ZHU Zhenwu is member of China Writers Association, president of the Novel Professional Committee of the Chinese Society for the Comparative Study of Chinese and Foreign Languages and Cultures, vice president of the China Association for the Comparative Study of Chinese and African Languages and Cultures, vice president of the China Foreign language leaching and Research Association, vice president of the China's Cognitive Translation Research Association, deputy secretary general of the China’s Foreign Literature Society, and distinguished professor of Peking University, Changzhou University and Three Gorges University, etc. In addition, he has been leading his team to translate Dan Brown's series of novels such as Da Vinci Code, etc. and some other related Chinese and English works at home and abroad. Such media as CCTV, Phoenix Satellite TV and other mainstream media reported his success in research on translation and teaching of Chinese and foreign literature and cultures.
As the visit drew to a close, it was clear that the visit had been a fruitful and enlightening experience for all involved. Professor ZHU Zhenwu and his postdoctoral students left PSI with a deepened appreciation of the literary and cultural heritage of the East African region and the realization that there is much to learn from the ancient traditions of Ethiopia, which bear striking similarities to the literary heritage of China.
The gift of Professor ZHU's book to Prof. Beyene Petros served as a symbolic gesture that cemented the ties forged and the shared passion for scholarly activities across geographical boundaries. This visit was an important step in promoting better cultural understanding and research cooperation between the two nations.