The 31st Beijing International Book Fair drew to a close this weekend, leaving a lasting impression with Saudi Arabia's pavilion emerging as a standout attraction. As one of 56 countries and regions participating in Asia's largest publishing event, the Kingdom curated an immersive experience through rare manuscripts, contemporary literature, and interactive displays tracing its literary evolution.
Visitors explored works from Saudi research centers and cultural institutions like the King Abdulaziz Foundation, with many titles making their Chinese debut. CGTN's Yang Yan noted the pavilion's emphasis on cross-cultural dialogue, featuring Arabic calligraphy workshops and live translations of poetry spanning desert odysseys to modern urban narratives.
The event comes as Saudi-China cultural cooperation intensifies, with bilateral translations increasing 40% since 2022. 'This fair isn't just about book sales,' said pavilion curator Ahmed Al-Mansouri. 'It's about building bridges through shared stories – showing how our traditions coexist with visionary reforms under Vision 2030.'
With over 2,600 exhibitors from countries and regions worldwide, the fair reinforced Beijing's role as a global knowledge exchange hub. Industry analysts highlight growing interest in Asian-language publications, particularly Arabic-Chinese translated works which saw 78% growth in 2023.
