The Chinese Book Fair, sponsored by General Administration of Press and Publication of the People's Republic of China, kicked off in Kathmandu Wednesday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese Book Fair with the theme "Reading China," Nepali Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara stressed on the importance of book in course of search for information and truth. While expressing confidence that similar fair would continue in the days ahead, he laid emphasis on the need of study for enhancement of knowledge.

Saying that those Nepalis who are eager to learn about China are somewhat disheartened due to lack of Chinese publications which were easily available in Nepal in the past, Minister Mahara expressed optimism that the success of this book fair would give continuity to such fairs in the days to come.

The book fair, jointly organized by China International Book Trading Corporation and a Nepali company World Cultural Net, is displaying diversified exhibits with more than 2,000 book titles published from China in Chinese, English and Tibetan languages and covering Chinese traditional culture, history, literary classics, traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese martial art "Kungfu", text books for learning Chinese, children's books and other topics.

Besides, the event also includes exhibitions of audio-video products and Chinese arts and crafts.

A 20-member Chinese team are visiting Nepal to participate in the book fair which is also scheduled to hand over books to Kathmandu University during the visit.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2007)