Highlights from the upcoming Beijing International Book Fair

The 26th Beijing International Book Fair will be held from Aug 21 to 25 at the capital's China International Exhibition (Shunyi) Center.

Boasting an exhibition area of 106,800 square meters covering all eight halls, the fair claims to be the largest-ever in its history, attracting 2,600 exhibitors from 95 countries and regions. They will present more than 1,000 book- and publishing-related events during the fair, and showcase 300,000 titles to visitors and readers, said organizing committee member Lin Liying.

It will also be the first year the 17th Beijing International Book Festival and the 9th China Digital Publishing Exposition will be held together.

The world's second-largest book fair, this year's event will strengthen themes like high technology and its convergence with publishing, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China, Chinese culture and tradition and international exchanges between publishers, writers and readers from home and abroad.

Lin said 1,600 exhibitors are from overseas. "This year, we welcome 48 new publishers to the fair. In total, half the exhibitors are from Asia, which clearly proves the BIBF's global influence, especially in that continent. And British publishers have the biggest number of exhibition stands," she added.

"International publishers are all interested in telling better stories of China's development, its ideals and wisdom in dealing with international affairs," said Zhao Haiyun, a member of the import and export bureau under the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Last year the book fair, serving both as platform of copyright trade and for the promotion of reading, reached 5,678 copyright contracts. The import–to-export ratio was 1:1.74.