In March, contemporary Australian literature was celebrated in Beijing and Chengdu in the third annual Australian Writers’ Week.

Guests at this year’s event included Alexis Wright, Linda Jaivin, Alice Pung and Graham Freudenberg who engaged in book talks, workshops, panel discussions and forums at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, universities, bookshops and the National Library of China.

Australian Ambassador Dr Geoff Raby said the aim of the Australian Writers’ Week was to give current and potential future Chinese decision-makers and opinion leaders opportunities to hear the “unique and independent voice” of Australian writers on a range of issues.
The Embassy again hosted its two-day Publishers’ Forum, bringing high profile Australian publishers including Jane Palfreyman from Allen and Unwin Publishing, Ivor Indyk from Giramondo Press, Andrew Kelly from Black Dog Books and Matthew Sandblom from Pascal Press, together with key Chinese and international publishing leaders.