Who is celebrity Chinese interpreter Zhang Lu?

Published:August 10,2022

By Staff writer

Zhang Lu, a female Chinese interpreter always fascinates many by how she splendidly translates top Chinese politicians during press conferences and other events.

Articulate, fluent and confident, she is currently a role model for many Chinese youngsters who wish to pursue the same career as hers.

The art of doing what she does with speed and precision has made some wonder how she does it.

Born in Jinan, Shandong province, she first tried to study international law at China Foreign Affairs University in 2000, however, she diverted to interpreting and studied diplomacy at the University of Westminster in London, obtaining a master’s degree.

Now, she is the Deputy Director-General of the Translation and Interpretation Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

She hit the limelight a few years ago after interpreting an ancient poem, Lisao, but now, she stands out among good interpreters in her country and even beyond.

So far, she has translated for top officials including Premier Li Keqiang, former Premier Wen Jiabao, former Foreign Ministers Li Zhaoxing and Yang Jiechi.

There are more than 80 interpreters in the Translation and Interpretation Department of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among which English interpreters are the most.

To be an interpreter at such a level, you have to undergo “severe” kinds of training that sharpens you for the job, preparing you to do what Counsellor Zhang Lu does.

Zhang said that she often listens to international news, takes notes, and reads newspaper every day.

A classmate talks about Zhang as a student:

Liu Gang, Zhang Lu’s high school classmate said Zhang is a talented woman and an elegant lady.

Liu’s seat was very close to Zhang’s in senior three and he noted that Zhang Lu’s desk was always full of English newspapers.

“We often asked her questions in high school and no matter how easy the questions were, she explained them with great patience so everyone liked her. Zhang Lu has a good personality and often participates in campus activities, but once she sits down to study, she is definitely the most diligent and focused person,” Liu Gang said.

The head teacher of her junior high school appraised Zhang Lu as a pretty smart student.

She said that Zhang Lu did well not only in study but also in organizing and participating activity.

Zhang was evaluated as the municipal outstanding student cadre many times and she also served as the lead singer in the school’s large-scale activity because she sang well.

When graduating from the junior high school, Zhang Lu became the only student being recommended to the provincial experimental middle school.

Her high school teacher said: “Teachers do not like students who do not listen to the lesson. but sometimes because she has learned the lesson on her own, I allowed her not to listen to my lesson and to choose her own English materials for self-study.”

Now, she is the idol of countless teenagers and college students, especially for those who want to be  interpreters. She has been interpreting for the Press Conference of China’s National People’s Congress for 12 years, which is a miracle in this field.

Recently, she delivered a speech at the 2nd National Diplomatic Interpretation Competition. Here are the remarks.

“The world is undergoing once-in-a-century pandemic and unprecedented global challenges, exerting far-reaching and extensive influence on the international community. A China that is approaching the center stage of the world has the ability and responsibility to play a greater and positive role in global affairs. More China’s voices, proposals and approaches are also expected by the international community. Under this circumstance, China’s president Xi Jinping once stressed that it was crucial to present a true, multi-dimensional and comprehensive view of China, promoting global, regional and diversified expressions, enhancing the affinity and effectiveness of international communication, in order to present a credible, loveable and respectable image of China.

On how to tell China’s stories well and to make the nation’s voices heard, she said more efforts could be made towards this facet, so that more voices of peace, cooperation, multilateralism, fairness and justice from China can be spread in a broader field.

For college students, the National Diplomatic Interpretation Competition is a vivid and valuable practice to know and experience how to tell China’s stories well. Also, there are four suggestions on how to improve our ability.

First, we need to attach importance to accumulating the knowledge of Chinese and English, as well as improving language skills and to develop good habits of thinking.

Second, we need to maintain curiosity, cultivate a sense of responsibility, and boost motivation to make more progress.

Third, we need to figure out the differences in the historical and cultural development stages and mindsets of the people between China and other countries.

Fourth, we need to follow related communication rules, enabling China’s stories to be better understood by foreign friends.

The National Diplomatic Interpretation Competition is a vital platform for college students to achieve their dream of being a diplomatic interpreter. I wish all participants a splendid future.”

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