The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is participating in the 30th Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF 2024), taking place in the Chinese capital from 19 to 23 June.
The Centre is participating in the Book Fair – the largest cultural event in Asia – to strengthen relations with the publishing and cultural sectors in China, promote its projects and programmes, explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation, and open new prospects for effective partnerships with prominent Chinese entities involved in the creative industries.
Furthermore, the ALC will be the first Arab institution to sign a strategic cooperation protocol with the China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the official body responsible for leading Chinese international cooperation in the fields of language, culture, publishing, media, and studies.
The Centre will participate in the Fair with a rich array of programmes that include panel discussions, seminars, and professional meetings. The ALC will also undertake a series of visits and sign several cooperation agreements, in line with the UAE’s vision to promote openness to world cultures and enhance Abu Dhabi’s cultural standing.
His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: “The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre is committed to participating in the Beijing International Book Fair, a major global platform based in Asia that brings together notable international attendees from the publishing and cultural sectors. This allows the Centre to promote its programmes and projects aimed at enhancing the status of the Arabic language and to explore prospects for establishing effective partnerships with major cultural, academic, and technical institutions worldwide.”
“The publishing and cultural sectors in the People’s Republic of China are key partners for the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre,” H.E. bin Tamim added. “The Chinese participation in the recent Abu Dhabi International Book Fair was the largest for China in any international fair, which asserts the important place the Fair holds among Chinese cultural and publishing institutions. By participating in the Beijing International Book Fair, we aim to expand our network of partnerships at all levels.”
The ALC Chairman is scheduled to attend the launch event for the China Academic Book Series as part of the exhibition participation, which also includes a panel discussion titled ‘Between Arabic and Chinese: Language and Civilisational Communication’, which highlights the Centre’s role in supporting the Arabic language, showcasing its major projects, and discussing aspects of cooperation between the ALC and various Chinese partners in supporting the Arabic language.
The exhibition is being organised in cooperation with the Chinese International Media Group, and will be attended by a number of influential figures in the publishing industry in China, in addition to a group of Chinese Arabists.
The ALC delegation will participate in the Arab-Chinese Publishers Forum, held as part of the Fair’s activities, to explore the latest technologies in publishing such as artificial intelligence. The delegation will also view content from major Chinese institutions working in the creative content and technology sectors. The Centre will discuss opportunities for these entities to participate in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and the International Congress of Arab Publishing and Creative Industries.
The Centre’s Programme at the Fair also includes a seminar to discuss the book ‘His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan: Insights into the Journey of the Man of Humanity’ and the launch of its Chinese edition in the presence of the author, H.E. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi.
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s programme also includes visits to influential Chinese institutions in the publishing and cultural sectors to introduce them to the Centre’s activities and explore opportunities for collaboration. These entities include the China National Publications Import & Export Corporation; Renmin University of China; Sheikh Zayed Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University; Beijing Language and Culture University; and the People’s Publishing House of China.
The ALC will also organise professional meetings with senior Chinese publishing houses and officials in the publishing and culture sector in China to promote the Centre’s projects and programmes, such as the Kalima Project for Translation, various awards and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, to encourage Chinese participation.
