The China-Arab Poetry Conference was held by Beijing International Studies University(BISU)'s School of Middle Eastern Studies and the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Nov 29.

The event was hosted by the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MOCT) with the support of the Poetry Committee of the Chinese Writers Association.

Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy, head of the League of Arab States' China representative office, emphasized in his address that the poetry conference served not only as a platform for poetic exchange but also as a bridge for spiritual communication.

He said that the League of Arab States has been dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries, actively participating in initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the China–Arab States Cooperation Forum, and hoped that the conference would facilitate deeper bilateral communication between the two regions. 

Ji Jinbiao, deputy-secretary of the CPC BISU Committee, university president and executive director of the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center, highlighted in his speech BISU's commitment to openness and inclusivity and the university's objective to advance cultural exchanges between China and other countries. He also envisions the poetry conference as a long-standing flagship event, solidifying cultural bridges between China and Arab nations.

Ji Jinbiao emphasizes BISU's commitment to openness and inclusivity.

During the event, poets from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and China, along with BISU students, recited poetry to express shared values of peace and friendship.

Zhang Yiyi, a BISU teacher, sang an Arabic poem "Give Me the Reed Pipe, Let's Sing". Moroccan musician Dina performed the Chinese song "Zhifou". The event featured a unique collaboration between the pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute) and oud (the pear-shaped stringed lute beloved in the Arab world). Wang Qifei, a renowned Arabic calligrapher showcased his art with, calligraphy inspired by China-Arab poetry.

BISU students recited poetry to express peace and friendship.

The discussion segment of the conference featured Professor Xue Qingguo from Beijing Foreign Studies University as a moderator, with prominent guests including Alian Al-Adwan, president of the Jordanian Writers and Authors Association, Jasim Mohammed Sadiq, president of the Baghdad Cultural Association in Iraq, Jidi Majia, director of the Poetry Committee of the Chinese Writers Association, and Ouyang Jianghe, vice-president of the Poetry Institute of China.

They engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics such as poetic genres, language translation, and cultural exchanges, enhancing the understanding and appreciation of poetry across different civilizations.