Deputy Minister Fan expressed that starting from 2018, HAC has been actively promoting the translation of works by 8 Hakka writers and poets into other languages, including English, Czech, and Spanish. The goal is to enable people from all around the globe to become familiar with Taiwanese Hakka culture. Additionally, HAC Minister Yiong Con-ziin also mentioned that the Reading My Village Literary Project selects modern iconic literary works with historical significance, including those by Chung Li-ho and his son, Chung Tieh-min, from Meinong District, Kaohsiung City. People are invited to come closer and read Taiwanese local literature, starting from the hometowns of authors.
Dr. Tseng Kuei-hai, Hakka poet and winner of the International Poetry Award at the 15th Festival de Poesía de Guayaquil Ileana Espinel Cedeño, also hails from Kaohsiung. He opened the launch to the Kaohsiung World Poetry Festival. 22 poets from other countries and 41 Taiwanese poets were invited this year, gathering together to discuss and exchange poetry.
The Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government reached out to the world and showcased the strength of Kaohsiung’s poetry to revitalize Kaohsiung’s arts after the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in 2005 when Chen Chi-mai served as Kaohsiung’s Acting Mayor, the Kaohsiung World Poetry Festival has now entered its 18th edition, bringing the city in southern Taiwan onto the global stage. The event promotes international cultural exchanges between poets, and participants were excited to meet again and share their culture.
The 2023 Kaohsiung World Poetry Festival was held from November 24 to 28, 2023. Themed “Poetry and the World”, it encompassed forums on specific topics, small group discussions, poetry salons, publication of poetry anthologies, themed tables, themed film screenings, OpenBook podcast recording, promotion of bookstores and school participation, and launch of a reading cloud, among other activities. A total of 63 poets from 13 different countries participated in the event, including Ecuador, Spain, Egypt, the United States, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Of course, local independent bookstores, schools, private-run art spaces, and others couldn’t be missing either.
