(Reported by Multicultural Press team)
Beneath the radiant embrace of a golden afternoon of May 27, 2025, where sunlight shimmered like silk over the architecture of Dubai, the 5th Silk Road International Poetry and Art Festival unfolded at the iconic Mohammed bin Rashid Library brought together more than a hundred poets, artists, and cultural figures from five continents, symbolizing the enduring power of poetry to transcend borders and unite humanity.
From the ancient lands of Asia and Africa to the vast continents of Europe, Oceania, and the Americas, voices from around the world echoed under one roof in celebration of poetic expression and cross-cultural connection. Poets from China, the United Arab Emirates, and beyond joined in a vibrant exchange of language, thought, and imagination, embodying the essence of the Silk Road: a historical artery not only of commerce but of ideas, creativity, and mutual respect.
The opening ceremony was attended by members of the Dubai royal family, leading figures from the arts and cultural sectors, and international dignitaries. Honorary chairpersons Huang Yazhou (China), Adel Khozam (UAE), and Vadim Terekhin (Russia), along with Festival Chairman Wang Fangwen and Executive Chairman Cao Shui, welcomed the distinguished audience. The ceremony was a rich cultural tapestry woven from diverse traditions, shared histories, and shared dreams.
Max Lu, Chairman of the United Nations World Silk Road Forum, delivered a special address via video, in which he posthumously honored His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, with the distinguished title of “The Spiritual and Literary Inspirational Figure for Silk Road Poets.” Max Lu lauded Dubai’s transformation into a global capital of poetry, culture, and innovation under Sheikh Mohammed’s visionary leadership.
“China and the UAE are two great civilizations connected by the ancient Silk Road,” Max Lu reflected. “In today’s Dubai, the poetic spirit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed continues to illuminate the world with wisdom and beauty. His verse has become a wellspring of inspiration not only in the Arab world but across the globe.”
The event was a living evidence to how poetry can be a bridge across cultures. Attendees recited verses from Sheikh Mohammed’s acclaimed poems, such as “Positive Spirit,” “Youth’s Determination,” and “I Hear the Echo of Your Voice.” These were accompanied by readings of international works, including Huang Yazhou’s “Silk of China, the Glow of the World,” Wang Fangwen’s “Distant Camel Bell,” and Bian Haiyun’s tribute “To His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.” Each reading was a moment of communion, an invitation into the poetic soul of another culture.
Huang Yazhou, Honorary Chairman and Vice Chairman of the 6th China Writers Association, captured the spirit of the occasion in his heartfelt speech:
“Meeting is a poem, and gathering here in Dubai, this city of silk and starlight, is the most lyrical verse of all. More than two millennia ago, the Silk Road connected the Chinese with the Arab peoples; today, poetry continues that legacy of connection, illuminating our shared humanity.”
He highlighted the parallels between Chinese and Arab poetic traditions—from Confucian classics like The Book of Songs to the lyrical legacies of Nabati poetry and Bedouin oral ballads. “In poetry, we find common ground. When we read the verses of Li Bai or Ousha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi, we are reminded that poetry lives in the blood of our nations. It is how memory survives. It is how spirit speaks.”
The host venue, the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, served as a powerful symbol of this cultural dialogue. Its Executive Director, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazrouei, emphasized the library’s mission as a home for global knowledge, inclusion, and cultural exchange.
“We welcome the world’s poets to this house of words,” he said. “This library stands as a civilizational model, embracing openness, diversity, and mutual respect. Its shelves are lined with books in over ten languages, including a growing collection of Chinese literary and philosophical works. It is our belief that reading builds empathy, and that poetry builds bridges.”
The Chinese Book Corner, recently expanded with donated publications, is one such bridge—linking Emirati readers to a civilization of 5,000 years and fostering a spirit of global understanding. Dr. Al Mazrouei noted that the library, by hosting the festival, fulfills Sheikh Mohammed’s vision: that culture should be both a beacon and a meeting place.
Adel Khozam, a prominent Emirati poet and Honorary Chairman of the festival, delivered an impassioned address about the poetic identity of Dubai. “This city is itself a poem,” he said. “Its skyline sings, its streets tell stories. And at the heart of it all is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed—a leader whose vision turns verse into reality. In his poetry, we find not only elegance of form, but depth of soul. He is a poet of the people, and a statesman of dreams.”
Indeed, many poets at the festival spoke of Sheikh Mohammed as a unique global figure—a rare blend of artistic sensibility and political acumen. His works are not merely literary; they are philosophical meditations on belonging, nationhood, innovation, and resilience. In poems such as “Days of a Nation,” he reminds readers that though our lifespans may be brief, our creativity endures.
One of the most powerful aspects of the 5th Silk Road Festival was its inclusivity. Nearly 100 poets from across the globe received recognition and awards, 12 of them from the UAE, celebrating voices from all walks of life and cultural traditions. This affirmation of global voices reflected the Festival’s deeper mission: to cultivate intercultural understanding through artistic excellence.
For many, the festival was more than an event—it was an experience of cultural kinship, poetic discovery, and spiritual dialogue. It served as a reminder that even in a world divided by borders and ideologies, the human heart still longs to connect through beauty, rhythm, and word.
As the curtains closed on the 5th Silk Road International Poetry and Art Festival, the echoes of verse still lingered in the golden light of the Dubai evening. The city stood, tall, diverse, luminous, a testament to what is possible when poetry becomes a shared language, and culture becomes a common home.
In the words of one attendee: “We came as strangers, but we leave as a chorus.”
5TH SILK ROAD INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL – AWARD RECIPIENTS
Poet Laureate Award
• Fernando Rendón (Colombia)
• Vadim Terekhin (Russia)
• Adel Khozam (United Arab Emirates)
Golden Camel Award
• Hamda Khamis (UAE)
• Khalid Al Budoor (UAE)
• Khulood Al Mualla (UAE)
• Han Geyou (USA)
• Peng Dan (USA)
• Pei Ying (New Zealand)
• Yuan Fan (Canada)
• Zhang Jianjun (China)
• Wei Guoqiang (China)
• Fan Qun (China)
• Chen Donglin (China)
• Zhang Yajun (China)
• Leng Xianqiao (China)
• Dong Faliang (China)
Silver Camel Award
• Shaikha Abdulla Almteiri (UAE)
• Amal Al Sahlawi (UAE)
• Saad Jumaa (UAE)
• Ali Al Shaali (UAE)
• Tian Lina (China), for “A Pot of Fresh Breeze”
• Zhang Xianyang (Australia)
• Lin Xiaochun (China)
• Qiao Qingya (China)
• Chen Hong (China)
• Xu Youchun (China)
• Tian Jiguang (China)
• Sun Meiqin (China)
• Peng Haixiang (China)
• Zhang Baoping (China)
• Yi Lan (China)
• Xie Lifen (China)
• Xu Wanlian (China)
• Huang Shaobin (China)
Best Poetry Collection Award
• Ali Ahmed Al Mazmi (UAE), “Where My Dead Days Sit”
• Fatima Badr (UAE), “The One No One Names”
• Ana Stjelja (Serbia/UAE), “Whisper of the Universe”
• Zhang Qunli & Hong Ling (China), “Secret Explanation: Along The River During the Qingming Festival”
• Xia Lu (China), “Monet’s Garden Rendezvous”
• Pei Chunfang (China), “Break the Cocoon”
• Fu Ping (China), “Starry Sky and Backbone”
• Laura Fu (燕紫) (Australia), “Moonlight on the Other Shore”
• Bian Haiyun (China), “The Small Path In The Mortal World”
• Hai Xia (China), “Silk Road Sunglow”
• Lian Tao (China), “The Green In My Heart”
• Bian Qizhong (China), “A Global Poet”
• Yang Ying (China), “Drunken In Chang’an City”
• Lin Lin (Hong Kong, China), “The Sound of Time”
• Sun Wenfang (China), “Singer in the Wind”
Best Poetry Film Award
• Rati Saxena (India), “Why Is the River Silent”
• Ulugbek Yesdaulet (Kazakhstan), “Trace”
• Franca Colozzo (Italy), “The Slaughter of the Innocents”
• Nujoom Al Ghanem (UAE), “Sharp Tools”
• Masoud Amralla Al Ali (UAE), “The Mountain Keepers”
• Bing Ling (UK), “Ode to the Kunlun Mountains”
• Qiu Lin (Australia), “Fantasy Tour of the White Clouds in Madrid”
• Bei Xue (China), “Ode to the Daming Palace”
• Zhang Xiong (China), “Prelude to Water Ripple: Tongguan”
• Zhao Xibin (China), “Full River Red: Defend the North”
• Li Yaguang (China), “Ode to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda”
• Han Zhiping (China), “The White Swan of Virgo Spring”
Translator Award
• Yara El Masri (Egypt)
• Lamberto Garzia (Italy)
• Roberto Aedo (Chile)
• Yasef Ananda (Cuba)
• Zhang Lizhong (Australia)
Asian Poet of the Year Award
• Keshab Sigdel (Nepal)
• Abdukakhor Kosimov (Tajikistan)
• Biplab Majee (India)
• Kang Byeong-Cheol (South Korea)
• Altynai Temirova (Kyrgyzstan)
European Poet of the Year Award
• Giuseppe Conte (Italy)
• Dimitris P. Kraniotis (Greece)
• Nurduran Duman (Türkiye)
• Angel XJ (UK)
• Lucilla Trapazzo (Switzerland)
African Poet of the Year Award
• Achour Fenni (Algeria)
• Muhammad Rahal (Algeria)
• Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Egypt)
• George Onsy (Egypt)
• Siphiwe Nzima Ntsekhe (Lesotho)
American Poet of the Year Award
• George Wallace (USA)
• Alex Pausides (Cuba)
• Yuri Patino (Venezuela)
• Edwin Goana (Ecuador)
• Luis Benítez (Argentina)