A new award for literary translation was launched in Shanghai on Dec 25.

Jointly hosted by the municipal union for the art and literature circle, the Shanghai Writers' Association and the Shanghai Translators' Association, the Shanghai Literature and Art Translation Award will honor 10 translated literary works and 10 translated performing art projects every three years.

Five works translated from Chinese into other languages and another five translated from foreign languages into Chinese will be selected for each category.

The new award was proposed by five CPPCC members in 2018 and is aimed at promoting Shanghai as an important center for international cultural communications, said You Cun, deputy head of the organizing committee of the award.

According to You, Shanghai has played an important role in the introduction of many foreign literary masterpieces to China since the early 20th century and the founding of this new award will inspire more outstanding translators, especially those who introduce China's art and literature to international audiences.

Any literary work published or performed in Shanghai from the beginning of 2014 to the end of 2018 are eligible for the competition. Artworks translated from Chinese into other languages must be created by Shanghai-based authors in order to qualify for the competition. The winners will be announced in 2020.