Poetry, A Conversation: China and the UK

Poets, scholars, students and poetry enthusiasts from China and the UK gathered at the University of Leeds on 18 and 19 September for ‘Poetry, A Conversation: China and the UK’.

The event included readings and discussions on poetry – including translation – by poets from China and the UK, including poets of Chinese heritage from Singapore and the UK.

Building on the spark of an idea from Deputy Vice Chancellor: International Hai-Sui Yu, himself a published poet, organisers came together to make this ambitious conversation happen. The Business Confucius Institute supported the event along with the University of Leeds Poetry Centre, The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing, Stand magazine and the Centre for Translation Studies.

Dr Frances Weightman, Director of the Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing (which has a primary focus on fiction in translation), highlighted the importance of conversation and noted that “the key to conversation is language". Every effort was made to ensure poems were accessible to speakers of both English and Chinese, and the volunteer interpreters who played a central role in making this happen impressed everyone.

In his closing remarks Professor John Whale, Director of the University of Leeds Poetry Centre and editor of Stand Magazine, commented that "both poetries are in a state of transition" and face common challenges such as online and Instagram poetry and the pressures and opportunities provided by the internet.

All in attendance at the closing session agreed that they hoped to see the conversation continue in future years.

The Business Confucius Institute was honoured to support this event which offered a creative and fresh perspective on dialogue between China and the UK.

Participating poets included Simon Armitage, Malika Booker, Kimberly Campanello, Ian Duhig, Zaffar Kunial, Madeleine Lee, Li Yuansheng, Lu Ye, Helen Mort, Na Ye, Jennifer Lee Tsai, Wang Jiaxin, John Whale, Eleanor Wong, Yu Hai-Sui, Yang Biwei, Yang Ke, Jay G. Ying, Zhang Jiawei.