Chinese Poetry and Colombian Verse Meet at the 36th Medellín International Poetry Festival

Medellín, Colombia – July 2026

Chinese poet and cultural ambassador Liu Xunfu has arrived in Colombia to participate in the 36th Medellín International Poetry Festival, one of the world’s most influential gatherings of poets and literary voices. His participation marks another significant step in the growing literary dialogue between China and Latin America.

On 2 July 2026, Liu Xunfu held a cordial meeting with Fernando Rendón, founder and president of the Medellín International Poetry Festival, together with his wife Gloria, and representatives of the Confucius Institute, including its director and translator.

During the meeting, Liu Xunfu, on behalf of renowned Chinese poet Cao Shui, presented Fernando Rendón with three important publications that symbolize the expanding literary exchanges between China and Colombia:

• Songs of the Republic of Ideals, written by Fernando Rendón, translated into Chinese by Cao Shui and published by Beiyue Literature and Art Publishing House;
• Nuclear Explosion, jointly edited by Fernando Rendón, Qiao Damo, and Cao Shui;
• Epic of Eurasia, the monumental poetic work authored by Cao Shui.

In return, Liu Xunfu personally presented Fernando Rendón with his own poetry collection, Ode to Migrant Workers, a work that celebrates the dignity and perseverance of working people and reflects the social conscience embedded in contemporary Chinese poetry.

The exchange also carried a deeply personal dimension. Liu delivered an autographed letter from celebrated Yi poet Jidi Majia, one of China’s most distinguished literary figures, as well as a special poem dedicated to Fernando Rendón by Chinese poet Qi Yuguang, further highlighting the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between poets of the two countries.

The Medellín festival will also witness four special ceremonial events honoring Fernando Rendón’s remarkable contribution to world poetry and intercultural dialogue:

1. Appointment as Honorary President
   Liu Xunfu will confer upon Fernando Rendón the Certificate of Honorary President of the Beijing China Oriental Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting Academy, recognizing his lifelong dedication to poetry and cultural exchange.
2. Poet Laureate Award of the Silk Road International Poetry Festival
   Representing the Organizing Committee of the 5th Silk Road International Poetry Festival, Liu Xunfu will present Fernando Rendón with the festival’s prestigious Poet Laureate Award, acknowledging his outstanding achievements in fostering global poetic dialogue.
3. International Ambassador for Poetry Communication
   On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the Chinese Poetry Spring Festival Gala, Liu Xunfu will bestow upon Fernando Rendón the title of International Ambassador for Poetry Communication, honoring his role in promoting poetry as a universal language of peace and understanding.
4. Presentation of Calligraphy Artwork: The Tempest
   Liu Xunfu will present a special calligraphic artwork entitled The Tempest, featuring a poem by Fernando Rendón translated into Chinese by Cao Shui and rendered in calligraphy by Liu himself. The piece stands as a symbolic fusion of poetry, translation, and visual art, embodying the spirit of intercultural creativity.

Liu Xunfu’s participation in the Medellín International Poetry Festival demonstrates the increasingly vibrant literary relationship between China and Latin America. Through poetry, translation, and artistic collaboration, the festival continues to build bridges across languages and continents, reaffirming the power of literature to create enduring friendships and shared cultural horizons.

At Medellín, poetry once again proves that it is more than an artistic expression—it is a living force of dialogue, mutual recognition, and human solidarity.