Turczi Istvan (2nd from left) and Yu Zemin (left) interact with a Chinese reader at a literature salon hosted by the Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Center in Beijing, on November 3, 2025. Photo: Dong Feng/GT

The Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Center in Beijing hosted a literature salon in Beijing, on November 3. Cultural and Educational Counselor at the Embassy of Hungary in China, Director of the Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Center in Beijing, Anna Lujza Honecz welcomed Turczi Istvan, a Hungarian poet and writer, and Yu Zemin, renowned Chinese writer and translator, saying that the writers are now building a bridge of literary communication between Hungary and China. 

Istvan, who is also a winner of the Jozsef Attila Award, the Baberkoszoru Award and the Prima Primissima Award, shared with the delegates that he can see huge changes in China during this tour.  

"Last time I was here in Beijing in 2006, there was heavy smog, I met the [then] cultural minister [of China], who was saying sorry for the bad weather, and wished that next time when I get here in Beijing it could be a clear day. Nineteen years later, when I return, it turns out to be a sunny day. I just hope the in between time were not [as long as] nineteen years," Istvan shared. 

Once served as secretary-general of the Hungarian PEN Club, and repeatedly re-elected president of the Poetry Section of the Hungarian Writers' Union, the Hungarian writer celebrates for his contributions to poetry and cross-cultural literary networks. He also reflected that as a country, Hungary is very lucky to have two writers - Imre Kertesz and Laszlo Krasznahorkai, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2002 and 2025. 

Istvan then analyzed the similarities between the Nobel Prize-winning writers. "A remarkable author, or poet just needs to know one thing - they need to observe the world in a slow mode, that is, the perspective is all around, like a video recorder. Not missing the details behind the scene, from different perspective. Thus, one will capture the whole picture," he said. 

During the captivating literary dialogue, Chinese readers enjoyed conversation with Yu, who shared his journey as both a writer and a translator. Yu shared his perspective of Hungarian writers' persistent attitude to life. 

Students who major in Hungarian also read one of István's latest poet collection "Reggelre megoregszunk," (or "Until We Age by Dawn") which got translated by Yu into Chinese version. 

While exploring the evolving landscapes of contemporary writing, the writers believe there are huge space to cooperate in literature and people-to-people exchanges. 

Istvan serves as Secretary-General of the Magyar PEN Club, head of the Poetry Department at the Hungarian Writers' Association, and Vice President of the World Congress of Poets. His accolades include Hungary's Attila József Literary Prize and the Laurel Wreath Award, as well as the 2023 China-based "1573 International Poetry Award." He encouraged the Chinese students, saying that they have promising future in literature translation.  

Yu, a guest professor at Beijing International Studies University, is also a member of both the Chinese Writers Association and the Beijing Writers Association. He is widely acclaimed as the "spokesperson for Eastern European literature," with translations of more than 20 works from at least 10 Hungarian writers. His work has significantly enriched the Chinese reception of Hungarian literature. Yu also shared his observation of responsibilities of writers in a globalized world, the role of literature in preserving memory.

On the topics of how translation acts as a bridge between cultures, Director Anna Lujza Honecz affirmed the important commitment to nurturing cross-cultural literary networks and promoting dialogue among writers from different linguistic traditions.