Cairo literary event aims to bring China, Arab world closer

The first Arab-Chinese Literature Forum, dubbed "literary innovation on the new Silk Road," was held on Thursday to promote a dialogue between civilizations.

The event focused on three topics: heritage and literary innovation, literature in modern life, and translation movement for literary works.

The forum mirrored the importance China attaches to its dialogue with other civilizations, the Arabic ones in particular, Saeed al-Masry, secretary-general of the Egyptian Supreme Council for Culture, said at the forum.

"The event helps bridge the Arab-Chinese dialogue and cooperation," Masry said.

More than 50 writers and authors from China, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan and other countries took part in the forum.

Among the 13 Chinese writers present were Yu Hua, the author of To Live, and Liu Zhenyun, who wrote the book Someone to Talk To.

China's Ambassador to Egypt Song Aiguo hailed the forum as a platform to promote Arab-Chinese cultural relations, saying China and the Arab countries both have long-standing histories and civilizations.

"The modern Silk Road will not only work to boost trade, but also to inspire Chinese literature with more possibility, opportunity and vitality," said Tie Ning, the head of China Writers Association.

"The forum will enhance mutual interest between China and the Arab world, and provide inspiration to the Belt and Road Initiative," Habib al-Sayegh, secretary-general of Arab Writers Union, said.

The BRI, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Africa and Europe along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

Al-Sayegh urged Arab people to read more about Chinese culture, and hailed the cultural event as promotion for the translation movement.

For his part, Alaa Abdel Hady, the head of the Egyptian Writers Union, said the forum is the manifestation of a strong cultural base between China and the Arab world, which in turn would strengthen ties in various areas.

"China has gone through a long path in the field of literature, and has different techniques of writing," he said, noting that the Arab world needs to recognize and absorb the experience.

He added that the heritage of the ancient Silk Road is cultural and is of civilizations interacting, which would help the modern Silk Road.