The first Sino-Italian International Poetry Festival opens in Rome on Sept 2.

The first Sino-Italian International Poetry Festival took place in Rome, Italy, on Sept 2, aiming to become a prominent biennial event.

The festival drew together 100 writers, academics, cultural figures, and representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Italy. It also hosted the international launch of two bilingual anthologies: the Contemporary Chinese Poetry Anthology and the Contemporary Italian Poetry Anthology, showcasing leading poets from both countries.

Some of the participants pose for a group photo in Rome.

The opening ceremony featured a poetry reading session with teachers and students from local universities, alongside representatives of Chinese international students. Participants recited works by Chinese poet Hai Zi and Italian poet Amelia Rosselli, sharing their thoughts on the works.

Over its three-day run, the festival also hosted an exhibition on Sino-Italian contemporary poetry translation, a seminar on Chinese-Italian poetry publishing, and fieldwork and creative exchange activities bringing together poets from both countries.

The poetry festival was jointly organized by Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House and Delufa Press, with support from the Phoenix Publishing & Media Group, the Chinese Writers Association, and ISMEO.