Chinese and Japanese scholars working on the literature of Lu Xun and Natsume Soseki take part in a cultural exchange activity in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on Sept 11. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

A Sino-Japanese cultural exchange activity titled "Lu Xun and Natsume Soseki: A dialogue across time and space" took place on Sept 11 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, which is famous for being Lu Xun's hometown.

Chinese and Japanese scholars attended the event, along with descendants of the two well-known Asian writers, representatives from Japan-China friendship association, aiming to promote cultural exchanges between China and Japan.

Lu Xun is the pen name of Zhou Shuren (1881-1936), a Chinese modern writer, philosopher and revolutionary. His sharp writing style is surprisingly similar to that of Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki's. Soseki (1867-1916), whose works have a clear realist tendency and which are filled with subtle insights into human nature, is known for his Kokoro and I Am a Cat.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan and also the 150th anniversary of Natsume Soseki's birth.

"It's a memorable moment and the significance of the activities should not only be limited to the literature itself, but also as a communication between the two countries," said Zhou Lingfei, grandson of Lu Xun.

Natsume Bonosuke, the eldest grandson of Natsume Soseki, agreed with Zhou's idea. He quoted sentences from his grandfather's literature to show Natsume Soseki's respect and esteem to China and the Chinese people.

"Art is global. A dialogue between Lu Xun and Natsume Soseki is a symbol of cultural and literary exchanges between China and Japan," said Wang Jianli, president of Shaoxing University.