World
11:50, 14-Feb-2019
China to participate in Muscat int'l book fair for the first time
["other","Oman"," Middle East"]
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China is among the four countries that will participate in the forthcoming Muscat International Book Fair (MIBF) for the first time, Oman's Ministry of Information announced on Wednesday.
The 24th edition of the book fair, scheduled from February 20 to March 2, will see participation of 882 publishers from 30 countries, Oman's Minister of Information Abdul Munim bin Mansour Al Hasani revealed at a press conference in Muscat.
Citing the highlights of the MIBF this year, Hasani said that China along with Bulgaria, Canada and Sri Lanka will participate for the first time in the exhibition, which he claimed ranks among the “top three book fairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and is positioned second in Arab countries in terms of purchasing power and public demand.”
The Chinese participation in the book fair comes at a time when Beijing is gradually increasing its economic and cultural presence in Oman and five other GCC countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
This year's MIBF will be inaugurated by Oman's Tourism Minister Nasser Al Mahrzi at an official opening ceremony to be held at the sprawling Oman International Exhibition Centre in Muscat on February 20.
Omani children perform at a cultural event on the sidelines of the Muscat International Book Fair 2018, in Muscat, Oman. /Photo via MIBF
Omani children perform at a cultural event on the sidelines of the Muscat International Book Fair 2018, in Muscat, Oman. /Photo via MIBF
Hassani said that over 523,000 titles will be displayed at this year's MIBF, of which 35 percent will be new releases. American journalist Thomas Friedman will be among the prominent authors to promote their latest work at the Muscat fair.
"The fair will be accompanied by 106 cultural events, compared with 64 last year," said Hamad Bin Hilal Al Ma'amari, Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the exhibition.
MIBF Director Yousef bin Ibrahim Al Balushi offered details of the seminars that will be held on the sidelines of the book fair. “There will be three specialized seminars dealing with three historical figures that contributed to human civilization,” he said, adding that there will be one entitled "Oman in the Arab and Foreign Writings."
In addition, there will be a seminar focusing on children, the media and the future to be jointly sponsored by the MIBF, UNICEF and Public Children's Library, Balushi said.
(Cover: The exhibition hall hosting the Muscat International Book Fair 2018, in Muscat, Oman. /Photo via MIBF)
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