A book fair on antiquity can make opposites attract when it brings together the epitomes of ancient civilizations -- Greece from the West and China from the East.

For this year's Thessaloniki Book Fair, the seventh in the series, Greece has invited China to join 22 other countries during the four-day event, which will kick off Thursday in the north of the country.

On March 22, 2010, the press conference for China, the guest of honour at the Seventh Thessaloniki Book Fair, is held in the Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism Information Center.

Greek and Chinese publishers, authors and bookdealers will compare notes with their counterparts from other countries in such publication domains as literature, architecture, agriculture and -- last but not least -- culture.

Greek Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos is scheduled to officially inaugurate this year's book fair with the theme of "Antiquity and Us."

Fair organizers expect that the China stand will become a major attraction with its contemporary as well as ancient publications on literature, culture, economy and science.

The book fair hosts each year invite a country as their guest of honor. For this year, the hosts expect to promote understanding and exchange through discussion and debate.

Already in Greece for this year's book fair are some 200 Chinese writers, publishers and scholars who will share their insight into the world they all share, namely their writings.

A special Sino-Greek professional publishing exchange forum will be held in Athens as well as in Thessaloniki.

Eight publishing houses from Greece and China will participate in the forum to discuss and analyze case-by-case international cooperation in the realm of culture.

Other events include a Chinese-Hellenic dialogue and a China literature night.

The dialogue will focus on the theme of "ancient civilization and modernization," while the screening of seven China-made films, including a 3-D documentary on contemporary arts and crafts, will be given during the literary night.

Participants from both Greece and China believe that publications serve as a medium of culture and civilization. Publications in their various forms help strengthen understanding, interaction and cooperation among countries.

Greece and China have started cooperation in translating each other's literary works. Translated works will be on display at the China stand to demonstrate this cooperative outcome.

The 2010 book fair will also provide Greece and China an opportunity for comparing notes on the latest ideological developments in their respective regions and in the world as a whole.

Oriental names may sound exotic to Western ears, but when book fair visitors listen to and see what Chinese writers and artists have brought to Greece, they may understand the thought behind works of Chinese authors, painters and sculptors like Ru Xin, Zhang Yuyan, Yu Dan, Chen Qi, Bi Feiyu, Cao Wenxuan, Chen Shixu, Huang Beijia, Liu Ye, Xu Lei and Sui Jianguo.

For this year's Thessaloniki Book Fair, the seventh in the series, Greece has invited China to join 22 other countries during the four-day event, which will kick off Thursday in the north of the country.

(China Daily April 21, 2010)