Association of Indonesian Translators Participates in the 2026 China-ASEAN Conference on Translation, Interpreting and Communication

The Association of Indonesian Translators (Himpunan Penerjemah Indonesia – HPI) participated in the China-ASEAN Conference on Translation, Interpreting and Communication, held from April 17–20, 2026, at Xiamen University Malaysia. HPI’s attendance was a formal follow-up to an official invitation addressed to the President of HPI, serving as a high-level recognition of the organization’s contributions to translation and interpreting at the regional level.

The invitation was initially addressed to the President of HPI, Dr. Indra Listyo, M.Hum. However, as he was performing the Hajj pilgrimage at the time, HPI was represented by Vice President II, Eki Qushay Akhwan, who oversees the External Relations Division, Internal Relations Division, and Professional Development Division. Additionally, Ayu Puspita Dewi, Head of the Internal Relations Division, participated independently. The participation of HPI’s Vice President II was fully supported by the conference organizing committee.

Under the theme “Translation, Interpreting and Communication for the Future,” the conference brought together academics and practitioners from across China and the ASEAN region. The event underscored the growing importance of translation, interpreting, and communication as strategic tools for strengthening regional cooperation amidst global transformations and rapid technological shifts.

In line with this theme, the agenda included opening sessions, the launch of a regional association, and various parallel sessions discussing strategic industry issues. A major highlight of the conference was the official launch of the China-ASEAN Association of Translation, Interpreting and Communication (CAATIC), designed as a platform for sustainable collaboration between academics and practitioners in the region. In the association’s inaugural leadership structure, Prof. Jing Chen of Xiamen University was elected as the President of CAATIC. Simultaneously, HPI President Dr. Indra Listyo, M.Hum., was elected to the Executive Board and appointed as one of the Vice Presidents of CAATIC, reflecting the regional recognition of HPI’s role. The CAATIC Secretariat is initially based at the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Xiamen University, China as the initiating institution and conference host.

Furthermore, various sessions explored the latest developments in the field, including interdisciplinary approaches and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in training, quality evaluation, and professional practice. These discussions reaffirmed that, despite rapid technological advancements, the human role remains crucial in ensuring accuracy and cultural sensitivity in cross-linguistic communication.

In the context of these discussions, HPI representative Eki Qushay Akhwan delivered a presentation titled “Towards Mutual Recognition of Translator and Interpreter Certification in the China-ASEAN Region: A Practitioner-Informed Framework for Regional Professional Alignment.” The presentation emphasized the importance of mutual recognition for certifications within the China-ASEAN region to enhance professional mobility, maintain quality standards, and strengthen regional cooperation. Furthermore, it proposed a practitioner-informed framework to align professional standards across borders, covering competency aspects, assessment mechanisms, and certification governance as the foundation for regional professional integration.

Specifically, the proposed framework rests on three core pillars: competency benchmark alignment, certification transparency, and ethical harmonization. This approach emphasizes that comparability does not require system uniformity, but rather the interconnectivity of systems through standards that are mutually understood and trusted. Additionally, the presentation proposed the establishment of a regional dialogue platform as an institutional mechanism to drive the mapping of certification systems, the development of equivalence guidelines, and the gradual implementation of mutual recognition across the China-ASEAN region.

Beyond these academic contributions, the conference received extensive coverage from international and regional media. Reports highlighted the launch of CAATIC as a strategic step in strengthening cross-cultural collaboration while emphasizing the need for professional standards and human resource capacity. Indonesian media—including Antara, RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia), and Chinese-language outlets such as Shangbao Indonesia, Guoji Ribao, and Qiandao Ribao—underscored the necessity for translator qualification standards and urged Indonesia to take a more prominent role in the China-ASEAN translation alliance, a sentiment that aligned with the ideas presented by HPI.

As a follow-up to the launch, the first internal meeting of the CAATIC Executive Board was held on April 19, 2026, at Xiamen University Malaysia, with Eki Qushay Akhwan attending on behalf of the HPI President. This meeting marked the transition from organizational formation to operational planning and activity coordination.

Key decisions included the formation of three main committees: the Conference and Event Committee, the Communication and Outreach Committee, and the Research and Training Committee, along with their initial one-year work plans. The board also agreed to collect data on member capacity and interests via post-conference questionnaires to support program planning, including preparations for an interpreting competition in 2027.

Overall, HPI’s participation in this conference provided strategic benefits, particularly in expanding international networks, gaining insights into industry advancements, and opening opportunities for cross-border cooperation. This involvement reaffirms HPI’s position in regional professional discourse and is expected to contribute to the strengthening of professional standards in Indonesia within the context of regional integration.