Chinese and German literary figures celebrate Goethe Institute anniversary

Well-known figures in Chinese and German contemporary literature came out to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Goethe Institute on Tuesday evening and musical groups from both countries performed afterwards.

The discussion among about 20 Chinese and German writers were on the topic, "How literature functions in today's world" when the event opened at 4 pm at Space Time in the 798 art zone. Big names in current Chinese contemporary literature, including Li Er, Xu Zechen, Zhang Yueran and Liu Zhenyun, talked with their counterparts from Germany, including Sherko Fatah, Ursula Krechel, Volker Braun, Robert Schindel, Michael Lentz and Anna Weidenholzer.

After four hours of discussion, an intermezzo by the Xia Jia Jazz Trio, a Chinese jazz band, began the concert. The trio was followed by Chinese group CndY and the German groups White+ and Stabil Elite.

The event was the close of a two-day Sino-German Writers Forum co-organized by the Berlin Writers Association and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to celebrate the establishment of the Goethe Institute Peking in 1988. The Goethe Institute was the first culture center established here by a foreign organization.