Nur-Sultan hosts first forum of Asian Countries' Writers

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 -- Kazakhstan’s capital city of Nur-Sultan is hosting the First Forum of Asian Countries’ Writers from today till Sept 6.

The event is aimed at strengthening the connections and development of literary and cultural ties between the countries located in the Asian continent.

Chairman of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan, Ulyqbek Esdaulet, said the event can become a platform for the discussion of pressing issues surrounding the development of Asian literature.

“We also hope that it will play an important role in the consolidation of Asian writers, the establishment of spiritual, moral and humanistic values, and the popularisation of books and reading as a necessary component in the formation of personal and social ideals,” said Esdaulet in a statement made available to Bernama recently.

A total of 80 foreign delegates including poets, writers including Nobel Laureates, Booker and ASEAN Literary Prize winners, national prize winners, chairpersons of the writers’ unions and associations from 38 Asian countries are attending the forum.

Participating countries include China, India, Russia, Iran, Japan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, South Korea, as well as countries of Southeast and Central Asia.

The inaugural forum is also held in preparation for the celebration of the 175th anniversary of Abai, the great Kazakh poet and enlightener.

-- BERNAMA