Kuala Lumpur: A cultural seminar titled “Literary Translation and the Engineering of an Interconnected Cultural Future” was held, moderated by journalist Ahmed Al-Alkami and featuring Sami Al-Salmi as a speaker.
The seminar was part of the cultural program accompanying Saudi Arabia’s participation as guest of honor at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair and was attended by intellectuals and specialists in translation and literature.
Al-Salmi highlighted the role of literary translation in reshaping the global cultural map, describing it as a tool that goes beyond language barriers to convey human awareness, philosophies, and civilizational perspectives.
He emphasized that translated literature does not merely transfer words but also conveys ways of understanding humanity and the world, along with the values, experiences, and cultural perceptions embedded in texts.
He also noted that literary translation represents a space for civilizational dialogue and openness to others. The seminar discussed ongoing transformations in the translation sector amid the rise of artificial intelligence.
The Kingdom’s broader cultural and intellectual presence at the fair is being led by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission. The book fair is being held at the World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until June 7.
