In an age where stories fly across screens faster than pages can turn, literature may seem under threat. But Chinese writer and poet Zhao Lihong argues that the written word is far from obsolete.
Earlier this year, Zhao was awarded the 2025 Premio Montale Fuori di Casa (International Section), a prestigious Italian literary prize. His acceptance speech underscored a simple truth: technology can change formats, but not the essence of storytelling.
"As long as human nature exists, as long as our longing for beauty and truth endures, literature will not die," Zhao said. For him, the core of literature1 expressing ideas, sharing feelings and connecting minds1 remains timeless.
Zhao sees literature evolving with social progress. Digital platforms, he says, offer new channels for voices and ideas, but they only broaden the canvas; they don't replace the craft of weaving words into meaning.
His win in 2025 reminds us that amid emojis and e-books, literature continues to shape perspectives, foster empathy and bridge cultures. The story of Zhao Lihong shows that no matter how we read, our hunger for narrative endures.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
