The 33rd Abu Dhabi International Book Fair was recently held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center in the United Arab Emirates. As one of the largest and most influential book fairs in the Middle East, this year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has attracted more than 1,350 publishers from more than 90 countries and regions with the theme of "Where the World's Stories Unfold". Among them, more than 120 Chinese publishers participated in the exhibition.
Bashar Shabaru, Secretary-General of the Arab Publishers Association, said that the large scale of Chinese publishers participating in the exhibition demonstrates the close and friendly cultural exchanges between Argentina and China. The value of Chinese is similar and the people know each other, and it is hoped that the publishing circles of the two sides will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation and achieve more results.
"Helps Arab readers understand contemporary China more realistically"
At this exhibition, Chinese publishers set up a total of 9 booths with a total area of nearly 500 square meters. "Xi Jinping on Governance", "Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road", "Xi Jinping's Dictionary" and other works are placed in a prominent position. At the promotion of the Arabic version of "Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road", Ali bin Tamim, director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, said that "Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road" will help strengthen dialogue among civilizations, strengthen the ties between the Arab and Chinese peoples, and promote common development.
Haisam Hafez, president of the Syrian Publishers Association, said that the friendship between Argentina and China has a long history. From the opening of the ancient Silk Road to the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", the two sides have walked hand in hand, and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation have yielded fruitful results. At present, all Arab countries have signed cooperation documents with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, striving to create a new era of Arab-Chinese relations. "Strengthening book publishing exchanges between Argentina and China will further enhance mutual understanding, strengthen people-to-people friendship, and jointly promote development and prosperity."
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United Arab Emirates. China Foreign Languages Publishing House and Wisdom Palace International Culture Communication Group have jointly launched the Arabic version of the "Understanding China" series of books, opening a window for readers in Arab countries who pay attention to China's development and love Chinese culture. At the promotion meeting of the "Understanding China" series of books, Wang Xiaoming, vice president of the China National Institute of Innovation and Development Strategy, delivered a video speech, saying that the series will play a positive role in promoting readers from Arab countries to understand China's development philosophy and development path, and help carry out more in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and Arab countries.
Salah Djenibo, an expert on international affairs in the United Arab Emirates, said that through the "Understanding China" series of books, the Arab people can have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China. As a legal expert, he pays special attention to the construction of the rule of law in China. China has made great achievements in the construction of the rule of law, providing China's experience for the development of the global rule of law and contributing China's strength to the reform of the global governance system. "It is hoped that Argentina and China will strengthen dialogue and exchanges on the construction of the rule of law, and promote the cultivation of legal talents and the construction of the rule of law."
Hadi, deputy editor-in-chief and senior translator of China-Arab Satellite TV in Dubai, said that in today's world facing various challenges, books and media play an important role in promoting mutual understanding. "The 'Understanding China' book series helps Arab readers to understand contemporary China more authentically."
"Enhance mutual friendship and promote people-to-people bonds"
Walking into the booth of Egypt's Hikmet Cultural Industry Group, a "archway" hung with red lanterns and printed with Chinese elements such as moire, celadon, and Chinese characters came into view. During the Book Fair, Hikmet Cultural Industry Group brought more than 300 Chinese-themed books, covering economics and politics, Chinese education, children's literature, etc. The group was also awarded the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the Publishing & Technology category. The award speech issued by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center pointed out that Hikmet has been engaged in the translation and publication of Chinese books for a long time, "while playing a role as a bridge for Arabic Chinese exchanges, it has greatly enriched the Arabic and Chinese language databases and continuously served the development of Arabic Chinese".
Ahmed Saeed, President of Hikmet Cultural Industry Group, said that the Group's winning of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award this time is a recognition and encouragement to the vast number of people engaged in Chinese publishing and exchanges, and reflects the enthusiasm and confidence of all Arab circles to strengthen cultural exchanges with China. "We will also strengthen investment in new media and other fields, promote mutual understanding between Arab and Chinese youth, further tell Chinese stories to the Arab people, and present a real and three-dimensional image of China; It also tells the stories of Arab countries to the Chinese people, enhances mutual friendship and promotes people-to-people bonds. ”
In order to promote the project of mutual translation and publication of 100 Chinese and Arabic classics in Abu Dhabi, members of the Chinese publishing delegation and local partners jointly held a seminar on the mutual translation of Chinese and Arabic classics during the Book Fair, and conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on the mutual translation and publication of Chinese and Arabic classic literary works.
China Education Books Import & Export Co., Ltd. also cooperated with Compass Publishing House in the United Arab Emirates to hold a new book launch event of "The Three-Body Problem" in Arabic, which enhanced Arab readers' understanding of Chinese science fiction literature. The movable type printing experience activity of "Friendship in India, Scholarly Fragrance in A" allows the audience to experience the charm of Chinese printing culture up close.
"Looking forward to the continuous strengthening of exchanges and dialogues between Chinese and Arab artists"
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is open to the public and features more than 2,000 cultural, educational and artistic exchange events.
The European-African Communication Center of CIPG and other institutions have set up the "China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum Today" to display Chinese intangible cultural heritage works and cultural and creative products such as ceramics, bamboo carvings, and abacus. A potter from Egypt said after taking a closer look at a lotus-themed blue and white porcelain plate that she was refreshed by the exquisite workmanship of Chinese blue and white porcelain. "I know that Jingdezhen is a famous porcelain production area in China, and I look forward to the opportunity to learn Chinese ceramic skills."
Fu Changmin, the inheritor of Jingdezhen pastel ceramics, introduced that the world-renowned Yuan blue and white pigments are taken from Su Ma Liqing in the Middle East. Through the ancient Silk Road, blue and white porcelain spread from China to the Middle East and other regions. "Porcelain is a witness to the dialogue between Chinese and Arab civilizations, and we look forward to the continuous strengthening of exchanges and dialogues between Chinese and Arab artists."
Safiya, a banker from Syria, was delighted when she saw the Chinese abacus: "Syria also has mental arithmetic, and I learned it in school when I was a child. Both China and the Arab countries have created ancient and splendid civilizations, and we should further strengthen exchanges. ”
The booth of Wisdom Palace International Culture Communication Group wrote 8 words in Chinese: "Read China, Share Wisdom". Children at Bibiani Primary School in Abu Dhabi sit at their desks and compare Chinese pronunciations on small Chinese cards and multimedia displays. After experiencing the wisdom desk, the children gathered around the staff and asked him to write his Chinese name on the postcard with a brush: "Lu Shanying", "Wofan" and "Nula......
Zhang Shirong, chairman of Wisdom Palace International Culture Communication Group, said that learning each other's languages and understanding each other's history and culture will help promote mutual understanding and blind date among people from different countries. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Arab countries are actively promoting international Chinese language education and language exchange and cooperation, and non-governmental cultural institutions can play a unique role in deepening Sino-Arab language exchanges and cooperation, and make new contributions to enhancing Sino-Arab understanding and friendship.
Tamim said the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is an important cultural and knowledge exchange event. "I hope the Book Fair will be a platform for cross-cultural exchange and tell stories from all over the world."
(Abu Dhabi Telegraph)