The second EU-China International Literary Festival will be held by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to China from 21 to 27 May in Shanghai, and from 24 to 27 May in Suzhou. During the Literary Festival, 37 award-winning authors from the EU and China will lead public discussions featuring insights into their lives, works, and the unique character of their literary traditions. This is the second in a series of literary events that form part of the two-year-long #ExperienceEurope initiative, which aims to introduce the culture, institutions, and people of the EU to Chinese audiences.

Topics of discussion include finding creativity in research; the beauty of short fiction; global themes in local stories; three rules for writing; the creation of complex, well-rounded characters; and much more. The event provides Chinese audiences with a valuable opportunity to witness how diversity brings together two literary worlds and how the intricate weave of cultures and ideas produces even more richness and complexity in these authors’ works.

Looking forward to the festival, Qiao Ye, an award-winning novelist and short-story writer from Henan said: “The relationship between a writer and a written work is like a mirror. Sometimes, we need to change the mirrors, or change them into windows, and reach a richer and more exciting literary world. We look forward to such a wonderful feeling at the EU-China International Literary Festival.”

Ales Steger, a critically acclaimed poet and prose writer from Slovenia echoed Qiao Ye’s sentiments in advance of the festival. “We live in the age of global pollution, which is both environmental and spiritual. Humankind has to search for a new ecology of mind. Poetry, literature and other forms of artistic expression can serve as a kind of laboratory,” he said. “The meeting of poets and writers, writing from very different perspectives and traditions is absolutely necessary for such an undertaking. The EU-Chinese International Literary Festival a very welcomed step towards the future.”

Other prominent authors include Zhou Jianing, author, professor, and columnist; He Tongbin, winner of the Literary Debates Annual Excellence Paper Award, the Zijin Mountain Literature Award, the Zijin Literary Criticism Award, and the 14^th Chinese Contemporary Literature Outstanding Achievement Award; Pan Xiangli, winner of the fourth Lu Xun Literature Award, the Tenth Zhuang Wen Wen Literature Award, and the Fifth Bing Xin Prose Award; Halina Pawlowska, Czech playwright, short story writer, journalist and editor; Colombe Schneck, winner of awards from Academie Francaise, Madame Figaro and the Society of French Writers; Christian Y. Schmidt, author of a Spiegel’s bestseller; Jose Luis Peixoto, winner of the Jose Saramago Literary Award, Libro d’Europa, and the Oceanos Literature Award; and 7 others from countries including Ireland, Latvia, and Hungary. Book launches featuring Colombe Schneck and Ales Steger’s newly translated works will also be held during the festival.

The Delegation of the European Union to China cordially invites you to attend the launch of the Shanghai & Suzhou Literary Festival. The Shanghai Official Launch will be on Monday May 21 at the Department for Culture and Education of German Consulate General Shanghai. The Suzhou Official Launch will be at the Suzhou Bookworm on Friday May 25. The launch event presents a valuable

opportunity to interview and converse with renowned authors from both the EU and China, giving insights into the literary world.

For event attendance and interview opportunities, please contact Xiaoruo Gai (North Head) at xgai@northheadcomms.com.