Mo accepts Nobel Prize in Sweden

Chinese writer Mo Yan, who won this year's Nobel Prize for Literature, delivered his acceptance speech Thursday at the Swedish Academy and attended a press conference.

Mo Yan said that winning the Nobel Prize was a personal issue and that the honor was always given to an author instead of a country. But he believed that his achievement would rejuvenate Chinese readers' passion for literature, and bring positive impetus to the development of Chinese literature.

Mo admitted that he felt uncomfortable about the online criticism and comments that met the announcement that he had won the prize, but later realized that people were creating "another Mo Yan" in their imagination. "So I became a happy onlooker of people's compliments and criticism."

Mo said he would continue to pursue creativity and change, and try to maintain his high-level mastery of language. He also encouraged young writers to depict the lives of their own generation.

Mo also said that he didn't really earn as much as the alleged 21.5 million yuan ($3.4 million) in royalties this year. "I will remain modest in the future," he said.