Books helpful to enhance mutual understanding: official

Communication through books will enhance understanding between China and the rest of the world, said a Chinese official to the 22nd Minsk International Book Fair which opened here Wednesday.

The Belarusian people have shown a great interest in China and hope to know more about the country through reading, said Yan Xiaohong, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China, and head of Chinese delegation to the book fair.

China, for the first time, is the Guest of Honor of this fair held at the Belarusian National Exhibition Center.

"For China, the exhibition is not only a platform for books and publication business, but a stage for cultural exchange among nations," Yan said in an interview with Xinhua.

As this year's Guest of Honor, China also sees the book fair an opportunity for its national publishing industry to learn from global publishers.

"China is a big publisher of books, but the industry is not strong enough," said Yan.

Deficit in the copyright trade with world leading publishers in the United States and Europe is still a problem confronting China.

"The Chinese publishing industry must stand up to the competition from global publishing giants and learn from them advanced experience and operational modes," he said.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to promoting Chinese publications at well-known international book fairs.

"China has attended a number of such activities. Besides this exhibition in Minsk, it will, also as the guest of honor, take part in a book fair in the U.S.," said the official.

Up to 5,000 books are showcased at the exhibition, which are classified into eight sections with different themes including celebration of the 70th anniversary of the victory in World Anti-Fascist War, publishing and printing in ancient China and so on.

There is a special booth for translation publications, including about 130 books translated into Chinese or Belarusian by writers and translators of both countries, Yan said.

Except for book exhibition, dozens of forums and symposiums will be held between the two country's publishers, writers and translators during the five-day gathering.

"With China's 'Belt and Road' initiatives, cooperation in the publishing area among countries along the new silk road will be brought to a new height," said Yan.