On June 27, Consul General Xu Wei attended the inaugural session of the Bengal Arts & Literature Festival 2026 and delivered a speech. Dr. Sudipta Kumar Ghosh, founder of the organizer Exceller Books, and renowned Bengali writer Mr. Pabitra Sarkar were among the attendees.

In his remarks, Consul General Xu extended congratulations on the inauguration of the festival and outlined the recent China-India people-to-people and cultural exchange events organized by the Consulate. He noted that, under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, China-India relations have continued to improve and develop. With art serving as a bridge and literature as a bond, the Consulate remains committed to fostering mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, particularly among the younger generation, and to enhance the civilizational exchanges between the two countries.

Centered around the theme ‘Arts & Literature Beyond Borders’, this year’s Bengal Arts & Literature Festival featured a series of cross-cultural exchange events. ‘Tagore Samman 2026’ was presented to outstanding figures in West Bengal’s literary and artistic circles, and the English translation of Tagore’s classic work The Post Office was also officially launched on site. The festival attracted around 800 participants, including famous actor and singer Anjan Dutt, writer Tridib Kumar Chatterjee, historian and senior journalist Harish C. Mehta, as well as numerous artists, writers, Tagore scholars and media professionals, creating a lively atmosphere throughout.