Chinese Literature Readers' Club opens in Egypt

In a launch that brought poets, writers, scholars and translators together, the Chinese Literature Readers' Club was inaugurated at Ain Shams University in Egypt on Sept 15, 2026, creating a new platform for exchanges between Chinese and Egyptian literary communities and deepening dialogue between two ancient civilizations.

Jointly established by China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Co Ltd and Ain Shams University under the guidance of the International Department of the China Writers Association, the club marked its launch with a discussion titled "Two Voices of Civilization: A China–Egypt Literary Dialogue". Poets, writers and scholars explored the enduring value of literature and the cultural traditions of both countries.

Youmna Safwat, dean of the university's Faculty of Al-Alsun, or languages, chaired the event. More than 50 people attended, including Hassanein Fahmy Hussein, head of the faculty's Chinese language department and the club's director; Zheng Lei, deputy director of the CWA's International Department; Egyptian poet Marwa Nabil; literary critic Mounir Oteiba; and writer Saad El-Qersh. Chinese participants included poet and critic Huo Junming, deputy editor-in-chief of Poetry Periodical, and novelist Zhou Xuanpu, deputy director of the Shaanxi Academy of Literature. They were joined by Ain Shams University scholars, translators and students of Chinese.

In her address, Safwat said the Chinese language department had long been committed to researching Chinese literature and translating it into Arabic, helping introduce Chinese writing to readers in Egypt and the wider Arab world. Hosting the club was a milestone in academic and cultural exchanges between the two countries and would strengthen communication between their ancient civilizations, she said.