Quotable

The most brilliant and distinctive part of a writer's work is always the biggest headache for translators, and in this sense, authors and translators are adversaries."

MO YAN, Nobel laureate, and other renowned Chinese writers met foreign translators of their works on Monday at a meeting where the two described each other as "frenemies". The symposium is the third biennial event of its kind to be held by the China Writers Association. Thirty sinologists and Chinese language experts from 16 countries as well as famous Chinese authors such as Jia Pingwa, Mai Jia and Alai took part. Tie Ning, chairwoman of the association, said the meeting of the writers and their translators is like a "reunion of long-lost twin brothers or sisters."