The Chilean Ambassador to China Mauricio Hurtado (third from right) and guests pose for photos at the book launch ceremony. Photo: Courtesy of the Chilean Embassy in Beijing

The Chilean Embassy in Beijing hosted the launch of the book in Chinese A Collection of Poems and Prose by Pablo Neruda recently. The event marked the 120th anniversary of the birth of the renowned poet, which fell on that same day. The ceremony was attended by prominent guests from the literary, academic, and cultural community, as well as representatives from the media and numerous members of the public. The book launch was broadcast live via a streaming service, reaching a peak of 32,000 users connected from all over China.

This selection of poems was translated by the distinguished professor Zhao Zhenjiang, a Spanish language professor from Peking University.

The Chilean Ambassador to China, Mauricio Hurtado, opened the presentations with a speech, highlighting Neruda's importance in world literature and the relevance of his legacy in the cultural relationship between Chile and China. Following this, Fabián Tort, the Cultural Attaché of the Chilean Embassy in China, reflected on the universality of Neruda's poetry and Chile's presence in world literature. The Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Yilin Publishing, publisher of the book, introduced the editing and translation process of this new collection, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of bringing Neruda's work to a Chinese audience.

The central event was a panel discussion between renowned experts Professor Zhao and Dai Jinhua, joined by Professor Wang Tian'ai. This panel provided an in-depth and academic look at Neruda's influence on world literature, his time in China, and his assimilation into Chinese poetry.

The event continued with a Q&A session with the floor open to media and Neruda fans. The program concluded with a book signing session by Professor Zhao for the readers present, and a wine reception for all the guests.