As part of bilateral efforts to enhance cultural cooperation between the two great civilizations, China, as the Guest of Honor, will participate in the 43rd Cairo International Book Fair in Egypt.

"An outstanding Chinese delegation will attend the fair to inform the Egyptian people all about Chinese culture," said Chen Dongyun, cultural counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt.

Some 248 publishers, 13 renowned scholars, writers and artists will display about 10,000 books about the achievements made by China in various fields such as politics, economy, science and technology, and culture.

The fair, the most important of its kind in the Arab region, will be held on January 29 through February 8 in the Cairo International Conference Center. The annual fair began in 1969.

The Chinese hall in the center covers an area of 1,400 square meters, with special areas allocated for a variety of exhibitions about the history of the evolution of Chinese characters, photos reflecting Sino-Egypt friendship and landscape of modern China and intangible cultural heritage.

The fair also includes a seminar featuring literature and translation among Chinese and Egyptian writers and artists and a week-long film show in which six Chinese films with Arabic subtitles will be introduced to the audience.

Chinese participation reflected the common consensus of the leaders of the two countries to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and will serve to promote the sound and sustainable development of bilateral relations, Chen said.

Zhang Jichen, vice president of China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Corporation, which is in charge of the organization of the Chinese activities at the fair, said a cooperation agreement between the General Administration of Press and Publication of China and Egypt's Ministry of Culture.

China will also present some 1,000 high-quality books to the National Library and Archives of Egypt and the Alexandria Library.

The fair is expected to attract 632 publishers from 29 countries, including 17 in the Middle East. More than two million visitors participate in the fair each year.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2011)