"Bridge of Poetry" Symposium Between Renowned Poets and University Students Successfully Held

On the afternoon of December 9, the "Poetry Bridge" symposium, bringing together celebrated poets and university students, was held at the Xuhui Campus. International poets from over ten countries — including Colombia, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, Chile, Macedonia, and Singapore — joined renowned Chinese poets such as Zhao Lihong, Liang Xiaoming, Zhang Xiaoxue, Wang Qingang, Ya Lijuan, and Ayiguli in a vibrant cross-cultural and cross-linguistic dialogue with students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Jiang Linxin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Oriental Education Times under Shanghai Educational Press Group, served as the host.

Qi Hong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Humanities, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing that poetry is a universal language of the soul — one that thrives even more in the era of globalization and digital transformation. She highlighted the university’s commitment to cultivating humanistic literacy and poetic thinking, positioning it as fertile ground for the growth and exchange of poetic expression.

Zhong Lixin, President of Shanghai Educational Press Group, noted that 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the collaboration between the Shanghai Citizen Poetry Festival and the Shanghai International Poetry Festival. This year’s symposium, themed "The Way of Poetry in the AI Era," aimed to explore poetry’s enduring value and future direction amid rapid technological change.

Zhao Lihong, Chairman of the Artistic Committee of the Shanghai International Poetry Festival, shared his personal journey as a poet in a keynote speech. He encouraged students to ask questions freely, fostering a dynamic and interactive exchange. Over the 70-minute session, lively discussions unfolded as students posed incisive questions about contemporary poetry creation, and the poets responded with profound and inspiring insights.

When asked whether AI-assisted poetry should be allowed in competitions, the poets offered diverse perspectives. Italian poet Claudio Pozzani cautioned that the core issue is not AI’s ability to write, but whether humans risk losing their soul and sensitivity — becoming mere writing machines. French poet Sonia Bressler and Spanish poet Elisa Rueda likened AI-generated poetry to "greenhouse products" versus "naturally grown fruits," underscoring the irreplaceable value of lived experience. Poet Ayiguli, drawing from her upbringing in Xinjiang, poignantly stated: "My poetry grows from life itself — AI cannot feel the wind sweeping across the grasslands for me."

Zhang Yumei, Executive Director of the University Working Committee of the Chinese Poetry Association, Chief Expert of the University Student Poetry Education and Research Base, and Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, delivered the closing remarks. She affirmed the symposium’s consensus: AI is a tool, not the soul of poetry. The vitality of poetry, she said, lies in uniquely human emotions, experiences, and originality. Poetry, she noted, is a "meta-language" that transcends translation — a direct channel for heart-to-heart communication. The deep exchange at the event, she added, achieved a fusion of ideas and emotions across borders and cultures. Concluding with an impromptu poem, she recited:

Autumn’s truth grows clear,

The woods glow fresher near.

Poetry and wine, pure and dear,

Together intoxicate us here.

This poetic bridge fostered vibrant exchanges of ideas, illuminating cross-cultural reflections and youthful ideals — a vivid testament to Shanghai’s identity as an open, inclusive, and deeply poetic international cultural metropolis.

The event was guided by the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the National Language Promotion Base (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), and the University Working Committee of the Chinese Poetry Association. It was hosted by the Shanghai Writers Association and the Publicity Department of the Xuhui District Committee of the CPC, and organized by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Student Poetry Education and Research Base, the Xuhui District Culture and Tourism Bureau, Shanghai Literature Magazine, and Shanghai Educational Press Group.