An Open Letter to the Medellín City Council

I am Chinese poet Cao Shui, International Coordinator of the World Poetry Movement, Founder of the Great Poetry Movement, Executive Chairman of the China Silk Road International Poetry Festival, and Chairman of the Beijing International Poetry Film Festival. I write this letter to voice my firm opposition to the proposal of withdrawing support for the Medellín International Poetry Festival and hope the council to continue funding this invaluable cultural event.

The core of the Great Poetry Movement I initiated, Which is inspired by Manifesto of World Poetry Movement by Fernando Rendon, lies in the “trinity integration”: integrating ancient and modern civilizations, Eastern and Western civilizations, and sacred and secular civilizations . This pursuit of unity in diversity finds its most vivid manifestation in the Medellín International Poetry Festival. Since its establishment in 1991, the festival has transformed Medellín from a city once plagued by violence and drug into a “holy land of poetry” , proving that poetry is the most powerful bridge connecting fragmented souls and civilizations.

The significance of this festival extends far beyond Colombia. In 2011, the World Poetry Movement was founded here, and it has now grown into the most influential poetry initiative globally . For Chinese poets, it holds the most lofty status—since 1994, over 30 Chinese poets including Bei Dao, Shu Ting, and Jidi Majia have graced its stages, and countless others regard it as the gateway to the international poetry arena. During the 34th edition in 2024, I was honored to participate, and it was this platform that allowed my works to be translated into more than 30 languages and win over 30 international poetry awards . Such a transformation is not unique to me but a testament to the festival’s power in amplifying poetic voices across borders.

To claim that this festival is unworthy of support is to ignore its profound impact. It has been recognized as Colombia’s cultural heritage by UNESCO for advocating universal values of peace, unity, and justice . Each year, it gathers 80-plus poets from 40 countries, holding 75-plus events in theaters, libraries, and squares that attract audiences of all ages and social strata . It is where Li Bai’s legacy meets Pablo Neruda’s verses, where sacred poetic inspiration nourishes the secular lives of ordinary citizens —exactly the integration that Great Poetry Movement pursues.

Medellín has written a miracle of cultural redemption with poetry. To withdraw funding would not only terminate a 30-year tradition of cultural exchange but also dismantle a bridge linking Colombia to the world’s poetic community. As Fernando Rendón, the festival’s chairman, put it, poetry is “a shield against violence” and a force for building a better life .

I earnestly request the Medellín City Council to reject the short-sighted proposal of withdrawing support. Continuing to fund the Medellín International Poetry Festival is an investment in cultural inheritance, international friendship, and the human ideal “Dream Land” . Let us keep this poetic flame alive, for it illuminates not just Medellín, but the path toward a more united world.

Sincerely,

International Coordinator of the World Poetry Movement

Founder of the Great Poetry Movement

Executive Chairman of the China Silk Road International Poetry Festival

Chairman of the Beijing International Poetry and Film Festival