Chinese literature shines at Abu Dhabi book fair
DUBAI — The seven-day Abu Dhabi book fair that ended on Tuesday gave readers in the United Arab Emirates and beyond a closer look at Chinese literature. China was the official “guest of honor” country at the 27th Abu Dhabi book fair.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, which supports China’s the Belt and Road Initiative, the strategy to bring the Far East, Middle East, Africa and Europe closer together in trade, investment and cultural exchange.
Xiao Guanglu, the Chinese representative at the event, told the Abu Dhabi daily, The National, that the 650-square-meter Chinese pavilion featured books by “famous Chinese authors” as well as 3,400 other titles.
Nasser Yousuf Alzaabi, a sales director at Abu Dhabi Media, says: “I think this is a great book fair. The UAE government’s mission is to connect people through reading, to reach out to people in the world.”
On China’s role at this event, Alzaabi says: “The Chinese are a big culture, and this book fair is a great platform to interact. It is normally difficult for us to access Chinese literature, but this year’s book fair made it easy.”
Moroccan historian and scholar Abdallah Laroui, who was awarded the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the category of “Cultural Person of the Year”, told Dubai daily Gulf News earlier that he considers it “very important” for Arabs to experience various cultures.
Meanwhile, the Confucius Institute at the University of Dubai and several schools in Abu Dhabi have started courses in Mandarin.
The 300,000 Chinese in the UAE comprise one of the fast- est growing groups of foreigners in the Gulf state.