Jia Pingwa attends Frankfurt Book Fair

Celebrated Chinese author Jia Pingwa attends Frankfurt Book Fair

China is making a big presence at Frankfurt Book Fair with some 160 mainland publishers and distributors participating in the event. This year the fair is also being attended by celebrated Chinese author Jia Pingwa.

Every year since 2009, China has sent a writers' delegation to the Frankfurt Book Fair, to introduce modern day Chinese writers to the world. Famous Chinese writer Jia Pingwa is among this year's delegation.

Here, Jia promotes his novels at an exchange activity with readers on Thursday. Born in a small town in Shaanxi Province, Jia Pingwa rose to fame in the 1980s. Since then he has released a string of critically acclaimed novels about rural Chinese towns in the process of modernization.

I've seen many foreign readers this time. They've come to me with my books, asking for autographs or wanting to talk to me. I think Chinese literature has become more and more influential globally. In the past, I thought foreign readers knew little about China and Chinese literature, but in recent years I've felt that interest in China has been getting bigger. Jia said.

Jia's presence is particularly special for this German reader.

"I've read his works since the 1980s. He vividly depicts the lives and character of the Shaanxi people. I especially like his latest novel "Happy". German reader said.

As the largest book trading event in the world, the Frankfurt fair is where many international publishing rights are negotiated and traded. It's also where individual readers take in the newest quality publications. And instead of simply introducing literary classics, many contemporary Chinese publications are informing readers about what's going on in modern China.