The 41st Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair was held from May 24 to June 2 at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This year witnesses the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Malaysia Friendship. The Chinese publishing delegation participated in the book fair with more than 1,500 copies of books under 1,000 titles.
The Beijing Publishing Group Co.,Ltd. (BPG) displayed more than 100 titles of books under the theme of “Reading and Recounting Beijing”, including special-themed books, literary works, books on humanities and social sciences, books on science and technology, books for children, and Chinese-learning books. These books provide Malaysian readers with a window to learn about Chinese culture.
Zhou Hao, member of the Party Committee, member on the Board of Directors and deputy general manager of BPG introduced to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, about the progress in publishing the books such as Cao Xueqin and Kites as well as other books published by BPG. These books included the Malay version of The Funeral of A Muslim and A Pictorial Biography of Wu Lien-Teh.
On the morning of May 29 (local time), BPG and Green Fiction Publishing signed a copyright cooperation agreement at the activity area of the booths for exhibitors from China. According to the agreement, the Malay version of three books published by BPG, including History of Chinese Martial Arts, Stories and Legends about China’s Ethnic Groups and A Narrative History of Five Cereals, would be published in Malaysia. BPG and the Publishing House of Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) also signed a copyright cooperation agreement on publishing the Malay version of Theory and Strategy of the System of Modernized and Coordinated Development of Regional Economy in China in the New Era.
May 31 was the commemoration day for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations. On the morning that day, the BPG delegation participated in the launching ceremony of the catalogue of 50 titles of collected classical literary works conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations, an event held by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). The Malay version of books The Ordinary World, The Funeral of A Muslim and A Pictorial Biography of Wu Lien-Teh, which were published jointly by BPG and Han Culture Centre (M) Sdn. Bhd. Malaysia (HCCM), and the Chinese version of Wordly Land by Malaysian writer Li Zishu, which was introduced to Chinese readers by BPG, are all listed in the catalogue. BPG and HCCM donated 50 titles of books they would promote among the young Chinese and Malaysians to a local Chinese-language primary school. It is hoped these books would serve as a bridge facilitating the communication between young Chinese and Malaysians.
In the afternoon that day, BPG and HCCM held the inauguration ceremony of initiating the “October Writer’s Residence Project· Kuala Lumpur” at DBP. Through this platform, both parties would organize writers to conduct investigation and collect materials for literary creation, and hold colorful cultural activities for promoting excellent writers and their works. Through joint efforts for all-round cooperation in publishing literary works, they would promote communication and mutual learning between Chinese and Malaysian cultures.
