Chinese poets connect with European readers in Romania and Germany

Chinese poets Wu Shaodong, Ya Lijuan and Yu Cheng'an, who writes under the pen name Fu Bing, recently took part in a series of poetry events in Romania and Germany, sharing their work with European readers and exploring connections between literary traditions.

The first stop was the 16th Bucharest International Poetry Festival in Romania. The three poets attended the opening ceremony, where Zhang Lili, cultural counselor at the Chinese embassy, delivered an address. Zhang said poetry connects people across borders. China and Romania have a strong tradition of poetic exchange, with poets attending international festivals in each other's countries and continuing efforts to translate and publish one another's work. She expressed hope that the festival would encourage closer cultural cooperation and exchanges among poets and writers, deepening understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Wu, Ya and Yu read works including Blazing Sun, Time with a Suffix and An Operatic Life at the festival's main venue, the Central University Library, and at the National Museum of Romanian Literature in Bucharest. At the invitation of the Chinese embassy, the poets also met young diplomats for a discussion chaired by Zhang. They spoke about modern Chinese poetry and poetry by women, among other subjects. Participants said poetry is an important part of Chinese literature and cultural diplomacy, and pledged to continue introducing contemporary Chinese verse to international readers through a variety of activities.

In Germany, the poets joined Mid-Autumn poetry gatherings at the China Cultural Center in Berlin and Magdeburg's municipal library under the theme "A Shared Moment Across the World". Poetry, instrumental music and singing brought together Chinese and German literature enthusiasts and other guests to celebrate the festival and discover contemporary Chinese writing.