Arab poet representative thanks poetry for bringing Chinese and Arab poets together at Youth Poetry Festival

The opening ceremony of the 2026 International Youth Poetry Festival (China-Arab States Session) was held on the evening of May 9 at the Guangzhou Cultural & Art Center. Bringing together more than 100 poets from China and 13 Arab nations, the event gathered voices from across the globe, using poetry as a medium to open a youth dialogue between two ancient civilizations.

Egyptian poet Yahia Wagdy, representative of the Arab poets' delegation, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. "Most of the Arab poets invited here, as well as the Chinese poets, have come to know one another through writing, reading, and translation," said Wagdy. "But this is the first time we have met face to face."

In the following days, the poet delegation will participate in a series of academic seminars and cultural exchange activities, engaging in dialogues on poetic traditions, contemporary development and modern innovation.

Reporter: Xie Maishi, Li Muzi

Cameraman, video editor & poster: Deng Yingheng