China has finished the translation of China's complete histories from classical language to modern Chinese, the chief editor of the project announced on Friday.

It took more than 200 Chinese professors 13 years to translate the texts.

The "Twenty-Four Histories," 470-million-word biographical records of China up to the Ming Dynasty (1644), have been recognized as the most authoritative works of Chinese history.

The new edition, with more than 600 million Chinese characters, is the first complete translation of the "Twenty-Four Histories" into modern Chinese.

"The translation will not only help today's Chinese better understand the nation's past, it will also promote understanding of China by the whole world," said Xu Jialu, editor-in-chief of the project and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

"More and more foreign people have shown interest in China and Chinese history," he said. "China needs to let the world know itself, including its long past, in its efforts to embrace the world."

Previously, the ancient writings were almost inaccessible to foreigners who have enough trouble tackling modern Chinese, he noted.

"Foreign scholars who understand modern Chinese language can better research Chinese history with our translation, and the new works will also pave the way for translation into foreign languages," said Xu, who is also a noted Chinese linguist.

The tremendous project involves more than 200 professors from the seven prestigious academic institutions, including the Peking University. After three rounds of translations and revisions, the new renditions were proofread 12 times, editors said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2004)