A delegation led by Guo Xiaoyong, executive vice president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), made its debut Tuesday at an international book fair in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The book fair, launched in 1991, was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chief of Abu Dhabi crown prince's court.

Accompanied by Chinese ambassador to UAE Gao Yusheng and Guo, Sheikh Hamed visited CIPG's pavilion and extended his warm welcome for the Chinese delegation's participation in the six-day annual event.

"Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which has witnessed rapid development in recent years, is an influential event in the region. I'm very glad to see CIPG's debut at the book fair," Gao told Xinhua.

He voiced belief that Arabs would learn more about China through the event, which would help to strengthen the "cultural interact" between China and the UAE and other Arab nations.

According to CIPG's Guo, visitors and other exhibitors showed great interest in books brought by the Chinese publisher.

"More than 10 publishing institutions subordinated to CIPG from China and abroad have participated in the book fair with about 260 kinds of books in Arabic, English, Chinese and other languages," he said.

"Soon after the inauguration of the book fair, quite a few publishers came here to discuss business with us, showing that our books are indeed very popular," Guo added.

He hoped that more Arab publishers would also participate in book fairs in China, so that both sides could strengthen exchanges and learn from each other.

More than 800 publishers from 63 countries or regions across the world are taking part in the exhibition, which began cooperating in 2007 with the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's premier event for the publishing industry, thus becoming one of the most important international book fairs in the Middle East.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2010)