The 30th Beijing International Book Fair is set to commence on Wednesday, featuring a diverse array of exhibitors from 71 countries and regions, collectively presenting more than 220,000 titles at this year's event.

Compared to the previous year, the fair will see participation from 15 new countries, including Bangladesh, the Philippines, Czech Republic, Slovakia, New Zealand, and Nigeria. Additionally, countries such as Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Italy will significantly expand their booth areas.

With 1,050 overseas exhibitors, marking an increase of 150 from last year, international heavyweights like Elsevier, Pearson, Wiley, Springer Nature, and Penguin Random House are among the prominent brands scheduled to attend the fair, running until June 23.

Among the 550 domestic participants, including representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, 38 new entities will join, including the Shanghai Data Exchange, game publisher miHoYo, children's product developers, newspapers, and magazines.

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the BIBF will host an exhibition showcasing significant publishing achievements, particularly since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2022. The exhibits will encompass various genres, including social sciences, science and technology, arts and culture, children's literature, and ancient texts.

Saudi Arabia, the Guest of Honor for this year, will present approximately 120 titles in Arabic and English, focusing on literature, fairy tales, and educational materials. The country will also organize academic forums and a conference to promote copyright trading.

Ali Alothman, Saudi Arabia's deputy ambassador to China, highlighted the opportunity for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two nations, emphasizing the significance of showcasing Saudi Arabia's rich historical heritage and diverse culture through various mediums at the fair.

Lei Jianhua, assistant general manager of the China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Co, a co-organizer of the event, noted that the Beijing International Publishing Forum, scheduled for June 21, will explore the potential innovations that new quality productive forces can bring to the publishing industry. Furthermore, high-level forums like the PubTech Conference on Wednesday will delve into the integration of artificial intelligence in the publishing sector.

The BIBF will continue to spotlight picture books, art books in multiple languages, illustrations, and culinary literature, maintaining its status as the world's second-largest book fair of its kind.