On June 17 the discussion about the need for Chinese language translators were held initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania (URM). During the meeting director Ina Marčiulionytė emphasized the recent growth of interest about Lithuania in China. URM receives delegations from China every month and not all guests are able to speak English, the need for professional Chinese language translators is rapidly growing. Since the number of visits from China is only getting bigger, the government should start worrying about how to prepare more professionals who can translate verbally.

Also, the shortage of guides for Chinese tourists was expressed by representative of Tourism Department Akvilė Vanagaitė. Right now there are only 5 Chinese speaking guides, but the tourist traffic from China is becoming bigger and Lithuania must prepare for a new wave from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Not to mention that by not having enough qualified negotiators and translators who can communicate with Chinese business institutions Lithuania could loose compared with other European countries as was pointed out by Lithuania-China Business council chairman Osvaldas Čiukšys.

The institutions that are preparing Chinese language specialists were glad to hear such need from the government and business section. The head of VU Centre of Oriental Studies Dr Valdas Jaskūnas encouraged to establish more translator positions in the important institutions and the head of VMU Centre for Asian Studies Dr Aurelijus Zykas offered an idea to create an active and easy to reach database of translators and experts.

At the moment VMU is the biggest institution in Lithuania that prepares specialists of Chinese language and culture. Currently over 100 students are studying Chinese language in the RASK program. Big selection of those students also study as the exchange students in the partner universities in China and Taiwan.

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