The Delegation of the European Union to China is delighted to announce that the 5th EU-China International Literary Festival will take place from 12 November – 6 December 2020.

Building on the success of the previous four festivals where top authors from China and Europe have come together in a wide range of public discussions to present their work and share ideas, the festival’s fifth edition welcomes a host of exciting literary talent from China and across the 27 Member States of the European Union.

The festival, which will be held online this year in light of the coronavirus situation, will comprise 27 events, each one featuring a European writer to represent their country and a leading Chinese author.

The fifth edition theme ‘Recovery/Reflection’ examines through the eyes of our writers how the world is responding to the global issues of the day and celebrates the role of literature and thoughtful debate across our societies.

The 5th EU-China International Literary Festival boasts an amazing line-up of leading writers and thinkers from Europe and China who will engage in three weeks of lively literary discussion.

Some of the European authors selected to participate include David Wagner form Germany (Lives, People’s Literature Publishing House, winner of Best Foreign Book Award in China 2014); Colm Toibin from Ireland (three times shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, author of Brooklyn, The Master etc. Archipel Press); Andres Barba from Spain (multiple major prize-winner, A Luminous Republic, Such Small Hands, Imaginist); Stina Jackson from Sweden (runaway bestseller with The Silver Road, Citic Press); Christophe Ono-Dit-Biot from France (renowned journalist and author or several novels including Plonger, People’s Literature Publishing House); Dorthe Nors from Denmark (Man Booker International finalist, mirror, shoulder, signal and karate chop); Daan Heerma van Voss from The Netherlands (novelist and historian often hailed as one of the front runners of his generation, The Last War, Flower City Press), and many more.

Representing China the festival is delighted to welcome a host of legendary literary talents including Liu Zhenyun, Bi Feiyu, Liang Hong, Xi Zhou, A Yi, Zhang Yueran, Cai Jun, Stanley Chen, Lu Min, Xiong Liang, and many many more.

Speaking before the Opening of the festival, H.E. Nicolas Chapuis, Ambassador of the European Union to China, said:

“I am delighted to welcome you to the 5th – but very first online – edition of the EU-China International Literary Festival. We all have to live through these extraordinary times. We have had to leave our comfort zones and find creative and innovative ways to keep connected with each other. This has also been the case of the EU-China International Literary Festival. Moving this annual festival online does not only allow us to reach to listeners and readers all over China, it also demonstrates how highly we believe that culture can help to strengthen resilience during a crisis.”

Speaking of the theme of the festival this year, ‘Recovery/Reflection’, Ambassador Chapuis added that literature can indeed help us to better understand the world around us.

“Books can remind us not to forget our values when times are getting rough. Reading can enable us to reflect how to turn a crisis into an opportunity, to steer the ship safely through stormy weathers into a brighter future,” he said.

“We are pleased to announce that this year’s Literary Festival will again be able to display 27 excellent writers from every Member State of the European Union, who will have the opportunity to enter into dialogue with outstanding Chinese authors. The distinguished writers represent different literary traditions. They will promote cross-border intellectual interactions and nurture new artistic visions.”