400 literary figures meet in Surabaya

SURABAYA, East Java: About 250 Indonesian and 150 foreign literary figures are scheduled to attend the 13th National Literature Meeting from Sept. 9 to Sept. 12 in Surabaya, East Java.

Organizing committee chairman Shoim Anwar said on Friday the biannual meeting was aimed at strengthening relationships between those who write in languages of the Malay family.

The event will include discussions on literature and culture affairs, and art performances from participating countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Suriname, and Madagascar.

Other activities are visits to the sites of the ancient Majapahit kingdom in Mojokerto and to the graves of Muslim pioneers, and a sculpture center in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo.

Shoim said the event was expected to boost the tourist industry and the economy of East Java. --Antara