thesilkroadtoday
Almaty, Kazakhstan — Kyrgyz poet, translator, and literary scholar Altynai Temirova delivered an inspiring address during the 6th Silk Road International Poetry Festival, emphasizing poetry’s enduring role as a universal language capable of transcending borders and strengthening friendship among nations. Her speech highlighted the historic significance of the Silk Road as a conduit of cultural exchange and celebrated its contemporary revival through international literary cooperation.
Addressing poets, organizers, and distinguished guests from across Asia and beyond, Temirova described the festival as a living continuation of the ancient Silk Road, transformed from a historic trade route into a dynamic platform for intercultural dialogue. She praised the festival’s organizers and the World Poetry Movement, founded by Colombian poet Fernando Rendón, for creating a space where poets from diverse cultures can meet, exchange ideas, and build lasting creative partnerships.
Reflecting on the centuries-old cultural ties between Kyrgyzstan and China, Temirova noted that Kyrgyz writers have long devoted themselves to translating and interpreting the works of the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, introducing his literary legacy to Kyrgyz readers from fresh perspectives. She described Li Bai not only as one of China’s greatest classical poets but also as a visionary whose philosophical reflections on nature, humanity, and the universe continue to inspire readers in the twenty-first century.
Temirova shared her own literary journey, recalling that her appreciation of Chinese poetry began during her university years. Her fascination with classical Chinese literature gradually expanded into an engagement with contemporary Chinese poets, leading her to translate the works of Ai Qing, Ding Peilun, and, more recently, the distinguished poet Cao Shui. She also translated and published poems by prominent members of the World Poets Movement, including the acclaimed Egyptian poet and translator Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, whose contributions have strengthened literary dialogue between the Arab world and Asia.
Highlighting recent developments in cultural cooperation, Temirova referred to the landmark visit of a Chinese literary delegation headed by Nobel Laureate Mo Yan to the Issyk-Kul Forum, organized in honor of Kyrgyz literary giant Chingiz Aitmatov. She described the event as a milestone for Kyrgyz literature and a powerful symbol of the growing cultural partnership between Kyrgyzstan and China.
Invoking the names of great poets who shaped the literary heritage of Eurasia—including Li Bai, Wang Wei, Abai, Alykul Osmonov, Alisher Navoi, Makhtumkuli, and Rudaki—Temirova called upon contemporary writers to draw inspiration from their enduring legacy. In one of the speech’s most poetic moments, she invited participants to imagine welcoming the Moon itself, echoing Li Bai’s celebrated imagery, as a symbolic guest at the festival to illuminate the shared celebration of poetry.
Concluding her remarks, Temirova expressed profound gratitude to the organizers for bringing together writers from different cultures and continents. Speaking on behalf of the poets of Kyrgyzstan, she presented commemorative gifts as symbols of friendship, mutual respect, and the enduring creative bonds fostered through the Silk Road International Poetry Festival.
Her address reaffirmed the festival’s central message: that poetry remains one of humanity’s most powerful instruments for promoting peace, cultural understanding, and international solidarity, continuing the historic mission of the Silk Road in a contemporary literary context.
