BEIJING, CHINA (ANS) -- The annual Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) has ended. The fair ran from August 29 to September 2 at China International Exhibition Center in Beijing's Shunyi district, occupying an exhibition area of 53,600 square meters.

Korea Christian Publishers Association booth in Korean pavilion

The 2012 BIBF, the 19th activity, was co-organized by a number of committees, including Administration of Press and Publication of the People's Republic of China, State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Education, and CNPIE (China National Publications Import and Export Corporation).

Over 2,000 publishing companies from 63 countries and regions attended the exhibitions.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Republic of Korea, the fair features the latter as the country of honor. 72 publishers and many established writers from South Korea exchanged views with their Chinese counterparts.

Shown here are eBooks displayed an Amazon Kindle and an iPad

In the Korean pavilion, some Christian publishers participated and displayed their own exhibition books in the fair.

The Media and Publication Committee of CCIK (The Communion of Churches in Korea) and KCPA(Korea Christian Publishers Association) co-managed the Christian book exhibition in the fair.

“The new era of official Christian literature trade between Korea and China has opened,” a Korean daily newspaper, the Kukmin Ilbo, reported.

Chinese translated Christian Books displayed in Korean pavilion

According to 2005 statistics compiled by the South Korean government, Christian s account for 29.2% of the population of which are Protestants 18.3% and Catholics 10.9%.

The Beijing book fair has become an increasingly important player on the world’s publishing scene.

Digitization was the main theme for this year's seminar. The fair also presented events, such as a publishing forum and a “Literature Night” to celebrate the gathering of writers, publishers and readers.
 

Suchang Lee is the general secretary of Society of Korean Christian Poets and can be contacted at christianworldreport@hotmail.com