On January 23, the “Contemporary Chinese Literature Dialogue” event, guided by the China Writers Association and the Chinese Embassy in Türkiye, and co-hosted by Chinese Literature Readers’ Club (Türkiye), China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Co., Ltd., and Türkiye’s Kırmızı Kedi bookstore, was held at the Kırmızı Kedi bookstore on the shores of the Golden Horn in Istanbul. The event was part of the series of celebrations marking the “55th Anniversary of China-Türkiye Diplomatic Relations.”
Li Yiming, Member of the Party Leadership Group and the Secretariat of China Writers Association, and Zhu Yue, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Türkiye, attended the event and delivered speeches. Chinese writers and Lu Xun Literature Prize laureates Ji Hongjian and Shi Yifeng, renowned Turkish writer Enis Batur, and veteran sinologist Giray Fidan engaged in in-depth dialogue on topics including contemporary Chinese literature, cultural similarities and differences between China and Türkiye, and the role of literary exchange.
In his speech, Li Yiming stated that China and Türkiye are both countries with long histories and splendid cultures. The civilizations of both nations have deep roots, each nurturing brilliant literary traditions and artistic achievements. This readers’ club event is an important component of China-Türkiye people-to-people and cultural exchange and marks a new beginning in deepening bilateral cooperation. In recent years, thanks to the efforts of a group of outstanding sinologists, an increasing number of Chinese literary works have been translated and introduced in Türkiye. He expressed hope that this dialogue would help Turkish readers gain a deeper understanding of China from a literary perspective and allow the peoples of China and Türkiye to feel each other’s warmth and dreams through literature.
In her speech, Zhu Yue stated that in recent years, China-Türkiye people-to-people and cultural exchange has become increasingly close, with cooperation in culture, arts, education, tourism, and other fields achieving substantial progress, bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together. Literary exchange plays a unique role in strengthening the people-to-people ties of the two countries. The visit of these two outstanding Chinese writers to Istanbul for face-to-face exchanges with Turkish readers will certainly deepen Turkish readers’ understanding of China and the Chinese people, and also marks an excellent start for bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchange in the new year.
During the dialogue event, Ji Hongjian and Shi Yifeng delivered speeches titled “Writing China’s Transformation through ‘National Narrative’” and “The Mystery of Daily Life” respectively, showcasing to the audience the rich and diverse landscape of Chinese literature.
“Life is the Only Source of Literature”
In his speech, Ji Hongjian introduced his reportage literary creation to readers. He stated, “Since the reform and opening-up, especially since the new era, Chinese society has undergone historic transformations, becoming an inexhaustible literary treasure trove for contemporary Chinese writers. Life is the only source of literature.” Over the past two decades, Ji Hongjian has conducted extensive fieldwork, on-site investigations, and in-person interviews, attempting to write about China’s transformation through “national narrative,” creating works that are close to the times, to life, and to the people, resonating with the spirit of the age and sharing its aspirations and destiny. When discussing the China-Türkiye literary exchange, he stated that the literary classics of both China and Türkiye each carry their respective countries’ unique memories of the era, life landscapes, and cultural spirit, while also serving as important bridges for cross-cultural communication that transcend time and space, providing intellectual enlightenment for contemporary readers.
“Writing is a Process of Discovering and Explaining Mysteries”
Shi Yifeng began with “Turkish kebab” and Pamuk, discussing “the relationship between literature and daily life.” He believes that daily life is filled with unsolved mysteries, and each act of novel writing may be a process of discovering and explaining mysteries. “What’s magical is that these mysteries can resonate across cultures. A Chinese person’s question about life may equally spark the interest of a Turkish person, and a Turkish person’s answer to a mystery may resolve a Chinese person’s confusion.” Toward the end of his speech, he said, “Just as many outstanding Turkish writers have helped me see the mysteries in life and solve them, I also hope that my writing can help Turkish friends solve riddles and unravel mysteries in life. Because perhaps we humans collectively face the ultimate mysteries of life. The most ordinary things are the most mysterious; the most humble things are the most profound. I believe that ordinary Turkish people, like ordinary Chinese people, also have tremendous enthusiasm for daily life, and I hope we can work together to make our lives better.”
“Asia’s Weight is Increasing”
In the discussion session that followed, Enis Batur, a renowned Turkish writer and editor, mentioned that for a long period of time, Türkiye experienced Western hegemony in the fields of culture and literature, but is now gradually beginning to feel Asia’s growing weight, with an increasing number of Turkish readers developing ever-stronger interest in Chinese literature. At the same time, he also stated that Kırmızı Kedi Publishing House will continue to bring more Chinese literary works to Turkish readers, helping the peoples of both countries better understand each other through literature.
During the Q&A session, audience members enthusiastically raised their hands with questions, and the two writers responded in a humorous and witty manner, with the event punctuated by warm applause and hearty laughter. After the event, the two writers accepted an exclusive interview with CGTN Türk. The event content was published across multiple media platforms in China and Türkiye as short videos and news reports.
