Pertsov: Belarus, China can do more in book publishing

Belarus and China must do more to liaise in the field of book publishing – as stated by Belarus’ Information Minister Vladimir Pertsov after the talks with the Chinese delegation, led by Head of the PRC Department for the Publication and Distribution of Literature in Foreign Languages Du Zhanyuan

“A wide range of Chinese books are published in Belarus: from Xi Jinping’s books on public administration to translations of fiction. Our editions are also distributed in China, both in their original language and in Chinese translation. Meanwhile, at the current stage of relations between the leaders of our states, between our nations, this level is not enough today,” the Information Minister underlined.

According to him, Belarusians show a huge interest in China and Chinese culture, “Not only media and social networks are important here. Books are crucial to understand culture and history, so much more must be done on this issue.”

Speaking about the results of the negotiations, Vladimir Pertsov said that the parties agreed in the near future to organise exhibitions of modern Chinese and Belarusian literature in national libraries, as well as to update the co-operation agreement between the information ministries, “We’ve agreed with the Chinese Department for the Publication and Distribution of Literature in Foreign Languages to sign a new agreement, enabling us to implement everything that we talked about and what publishing houses and printers are talking about. This will enable citizens of both Belarus and the People’s Republic of China – when they come to a library or bookstore or an educational institution – to take the book they need from the shelf. It is important to understand in the digital post-truth era what the Chinese and Belarusian peoples really are.”

During the talks, the Chinese delegation proposed to the Belarusian ministry to open a specialised centre for Belarusian books in Beijing. Vladimir Pertsov explained why there is such a need today, “Three months ago, I was in China. For Chinese youth, Belarus is not exactly a terra incognito. They know about Belarus, but the need for information about our country is really huge. Therefore, Chinese colleagues propose to set up such a specialised centre, enabling Chinese schoolchildren and students to have the opportunity to come and get a wide range of literature about Belarus: works of classical Belarusian literature, modern Belarusian authors, as well as educational and regional studies literature. To study everything that interests them, not only for the educational process, but also in order to visit our country in the future, either as tourists or as students. You know that Chinese students choose Belarusian universities, so we consider the opening of such centres in Minsk and Beijing to be extremely important.”

Belarus’ Information Minister also told reporters that he had invited Chinese publishing houses to take part in the 2024 International Book Fair, to take place in Minsk in March, “Every year, the PRC exhibits at the International Book Fair. In 2015, China was the guest of honour. We propose that next year, against the backdrop of the intensive growth of our relations – both economic and humanitarian – we will show everything that is published by China’s modern publishing houses. We discussed with the delegation the possibility for the PRC to become the guest of honour and the central exhibitor of our trade fair, to present a large exposition on the area of about 200sq.m, where book presentations will take place, where authors and Chinese publishing houses will attend in order to find areas of interest for readers, what books they need.”