The first International Youth Poetry Festival is underway in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 19, 2024. [Photo/CFP]

The first "International Youth Poetry Festival – Special Session for BRICS Countries" kicked off on Friday in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. As part of the festival, an academic dialogue themed "Poetry Innovation" was held on Saturday, where 20 poets from the BRICS countries discussed the role, function and innovation possibilities of poetry in today's world.

Shi Zhanjun, party group member and secretary of the Secretariat of the China Writers Association (CWA) and editor-in-chief of "People's Literature," delivered a speech at the event. Hu Bangsheng, party group member and secretary of the Secretariat of CWA; Deng Kai, secretary of the Secretariat of CWA; Zhang Hongbin, director of the International Department of CWA; and Ye Tong, secretary of the party group and vice president of the Zhejiang Provincial Writers Association, attended the event. The dialogue was co-hosted by Li Shaojun, editor-in-chief of "Poetry Periodical," and Chinese poet Zhao Si.

Shi said that poetry has the function of promoting communication and exchange, and can bring together people from various regions with diverse beliefs, as to embrace the differences in the world. Through the first International Youth Poetry Festival, the CWA intends to build a bridge of international communication with poetry as its core.