Ceremony for the Launch of 100 Years of the Communist Party of China (English Edition) Photo: Courtesy of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

The launch ceremony for the English edition of the centennial history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held in Beijing on Friday. Officials said this book is of great significance to help foreign readers learn about CPC history, and editions in more languages are scheduled to be published in the future.

The book, 100 Years of the Communist Party of China, was translated by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, which also compiled the original Chinese version published in June 2022.

Qu Qingshan, dean of the institute, emphasized at the ceremony that the book covers the longest historical time span and has the most systematic and complete content among all the official Party histories published so far.

He pointed out that the book presents both an ancient and modern China and tells a true and objective story about the country and the CPC. It can help foreign readers to understand China better and can promote communication between China and the world as well as the concept of "a global community of shared future."

Sean Michael Slattery, one of the foreign editors on the project, told the Global Times on Friday that the team spent a year and a half to finish the edition, and he was amazed by the centennial history of the CPC, and the process of how China has developed into the world's second largest economy.

"I think this book can help foreign readers around the world understand the essence of the CPC. People in the world need to enhance mutual ­understanding more than ever, and only in this way can we carry out ­exchanges and cooperation and maintain world peace and development," he said.

This book could have a great influence on communism around the world as the CPC has demonstrated the brilliant achievements of the sinicization of Marxism with its wonderful century-old development, said Liu Liang, a translator who participated in the project.

As one of the translators, Liu told the Global Times on Friday that their goal is to convey accurate, comprehensive and effective content to English-language readers through the translation. 

Cover of 100 Years of the Communist Party of China Photo: Courtesy of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

When translating expressions full of Chinese characteristics, they supply annotations to give readers a better understanding.

He said the book can be purchased through multiple channels including international book fairs such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest trade fair for books. The book will also be promoted during foreign affairs visits, international academic conferences and various bilateral cultural exchange activities.

Xi Weidong, president of Central Compilation and Translation Press, said that they will increase output and are planning to publish editions in other languages so that more readers overseas can read the book.

100 Years of the Communist Party of China is divided into four volumes, according to Xinhua News Agency, focusing on CPC history in the new democratic revolution; the socialist revolution and development; the reform, opening-up and socialist modernization; and the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics.