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Here's something else you probably didn't know – the world's smallest living able-bodied man is Chinese. He Ping Ping is 20 years old and measures 2 foot 5 (73 cm).

He Ping Ping visited London and New York in September for the release of the 2009 Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. The delightfully diminutive gentleman posed in Trafalgar Square with Svetlana Pankratova, the world's longest-legged woman.

Guinness World Records enlisted the help of Asian Absolute, a specialist provider in the field of Asian-language translation and interpreting, to ensure communication went smoothly during their hectic weeks with the press in both London and New York.

Although our interpreters took on the rather unusual assignment of interpreting for He Ping Ping with some trepidation, both interpreters thoroughly enjoyed accompanying him. "It has given me a once in a lifetime experience!", "Thanks again for this unique opportunity!" they told us afterwards.

Although easily missed, He Ping Ping attracts a lot of attention. Even on an impromptu cigarette break outside a London restaurant it took a mere 5 minutes before he had a crowd of 30 amazed onlookers jostling to take a quick photo.

Born in the city of Wulanchabu in Northern China, at birth He Ping Ping could fit in the palm of his father's hand and had to be fed through a straw. Affected by a rare condition, He Ping Ping grows exceptionally slowly. He has two older sisters who grew at a normal rate and are now happily married.

He Ping Ping runs a restaurant in his home town. He regularly plays poker and smokes two packets of cigarettes a day. His ambition is to "have a normal life, get married and have children".

His mini-world tour turned out to be a great success, and language barriers were overcome thanks to the efforts of Asian Absolute's interpreters. As the Marketing Director for Guinness World Records Book in London commented, "Your interpreter was fantastic! She was perfect and did such an amazing job for us. Thank you, we hope to work with her again!"

Asian Absolute was thrilled to be able to give voice to the world's shortest man 3 years after providing the same service to the world's tallest man, Xi Shun. Interestingly both men reside in Inner Mongolia.

This was another opportunity to demonstrate that we have the expertise to help clients with the most unusual and challenging language assignments.

30 September 2008

For further information, please contact press@asianabsolute.co.uk

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