Bigger book fair kicks off in online first
China DailyThe 27th Beijing International Book Fair kicked off on Saturday, with the opening ceremony livestreamed on its official mobile app and news websites. "While many other international book fairs have been postponed or canceled, we hope this online BIBF will offer a platform for international publishing interaction and cultural dialogue," Liang Yanshun, deputy head of the Publicity Department of Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at the opening ceremony. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the committee's publicity department, said books that showcase the charm of Chinese culture, the contemporary Chinese panorama and vitality, and the shared values of the global community are the ones that will attract a wider international audience to "enhance mutual learning and understanding of civilizations". With the theme of "exchanges make civilizations diverse", this year's fair has attracted 1,400 publishing organizations from 97 countries and regions, putting more than 300,000 titles on display online, including 38,000 for copyright trade. "There are 200 first-time exhibitors at the fair, including those from Uruguay and Turkmenistan," said Lin Liying, deputy general manager of China National Publications Import & Export, adding that publishing organizations from 31 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have registered.