Building ties with books

"The book shows China's open attitude to communicate better with the international society and targets some of the misunderstanding," Chebaro says. "I'm impressed by the idea of always putting people's interest first."

Egyptian publisher Ahmed Elsaid says the world is interested in learning more about China as its importance grows, and "as you learn more, you'll love its culture more".

The Chinese way of thinking, tradition and culture are attracting readers to dig deeper, Elsaid says.

Elsaid has found himself busy on the international book-fair circuit in recent years.

"That means my team and I are getting more recognition. I started out trying to offer Arabic readers more choices in Chinese titles, (and) now I'm exerting myself to present China and its charm through books," he says.

Under the translation agreements between China and some Arab countries reached during the Algiers fairs over the years, 130 titles were selected to represent the fruits of the projects.

Liang Yanshun, a senior official of the publicity department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said at the China-Arab Publishing Culture Forum at the fair that the two countries have been supporting each other, and have formed friendships in the process.

Liang says many stories of the links between the people of the two countries are being told through books.

China had published 17 titles by Algerian authors, and Algeria had published 23 Chinese titles before this year's book fair, he says.

Nour Cherkit, an Algeria Press Service correspondent, says: "Today, with the economic relations between China and Algeria, things are getting better and better. We are seeing translations of works by great Chinese authors, and there is more exchange between our two countries, (and) the book fair is a beautiful bridge of exchanges."