Saudi Arabia Shines at Beijing International Book Fair 2024
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia made a lasting impression at the Beijing International Book Fair 2024, held from June 19 to 23 in the vibrant Chinese capital.
As the guest of honor, Saudi Arabia showcased various aspects of its rich culture at the fair.
The Kingdom’s pavilion stood out as a highlight of the exhibition, attracting a large number of visitors from the Chinese public, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in Saudi culture, arts, and heritage through a comprehensive cultural experience.
Leading the effort was the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, with participation from other cultural entities such as the Heritage Commission, Culinary Arts Commission, Fashion Commission, Darah, the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language, King Abdulaziz Public Library, Saudi Publishing Association, and the Ministry of Investment.
The Saudi pavilion played a crucial role in promoting cultural dialogue and introducing Saudi culture to the Chinese public through a series of 15 dialogue sessions.
A special pavilion dedicated to the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China underscored the importance of cultural exchange and collaboration between the two nations.
In collaboration with the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language organized the Saudi-Chinese Linguistic Forum, featuring a symposium on the history and relationship between the Arabic and Chinese languages.
The academy’s participation in the Saudi pavilion, under the Ministry of Culture’s umbrella, aimed to showcase its projects and programs in promoting the Arabic language, teaching it to non-native speakers locally and globally, and highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts in preserving and enhancing the status of the language and culture.
The book fair also saw the signing of several agreements between Saudi and Chinese publishers, including a cooperation agreement as part of the Tarjem translation initiative to translate books like “The Forbidden City: A History of China Since the Fifteenth Century” and “Historical Tales of the Great Wall of China” into Arabic.
The Beijing International Book Fair, established in 1986 by the China National Publications Import and Export Group, is one of the world’s largest and most influential book fairs, hosting over 2,600 exhibitors from 100 countries in China and across the Asian continent.