President Truong Tan Sang on Feb. 5 received foreign poets who are in Vietnam to attend the first Asia-Pacific Poetry Festival.

Welcoming the presence of 81 poets from 27 countries and territories, President Sang said Vietnam is honoured to host the festival.

The Vietnamese people have a poetry loving tradition and want to learn the quintessence of other countries’ poetry, he said, adding that literary exchange has great humanity significance to honour the values of humankind.

Poetry is a great source of spiritual strength that can encourage the whole nation to overcome difficulties and challenges, he stressed.

The guests spoke highly of Vietnam ’s organisation work and suggested the success of the first Asia-Pacific Poetry Festival lay foundation for the organisation of similar events in other countries in the region.

They said through poetry, they understand more about the Vietnamese soul and personality with love of poetry, idea of humanity and aspiration for peace and happiness.

The week-long festival features a wide range of activities such as seminars, poem recitals and public exchanges, focusing on the theme of “For an Asia of peace, cooperation, friendship and development”./.