عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Saudi Arabia Inaugurates its Pavilion at Beijing International Book Fair

Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Inaugurates its Pavilion at Beijing International Book Fair

Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The fair will take place from June 19 to 23 in Beijing.

The Saudi delegation, led by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, includes representatives from various cultural entities, such as the Heritage Commission, the Culinary Arts Commission, the Ministry of Investment, the King Abdulaziz Foundation, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and the Saudi Publishers Association.

Saudi Arabia’s participation aims to showcase the Kingdom's cultural heritage to the Chinese audience and promote investment opportunities in the cultural sector.

CEO of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, Dr. Mohammed Hasan Alwan, emphasized that the Kingdom's participation is focused on boosting cultural dialogue, strengthening the bond between the two countries, and fostering cooperation in literature and the arts.

The Kingdom's pavilion will feature a diverse cultural program, including seminars, dialogue sessions, exhibitions of books, manuscripts, artifacts from Saudi Arabia, and traditional performing arts.

A special Saudi dinner event will be hosted, featuring local dishes and performing arts from various regions of the Kingdom. Additionally, there will be displays of Saudi fashion and a section dedicated to the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China.

The Beijing International Book Fair, established in 1986, is organized by the China National Publications Import and Export Group and is the second-largest book fair in the world. It attracts over 2,600 exhibitors from 100 countries, making it the most influential book fair in China and Asia.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

UNESCO Finds ISIS Group-era Bombs in Mosul Historic Mosque Walls

Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed -The AP 
Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed -The AP 
TT
TT

UNESCO Finds ISIS Group-era Bombs in Mosul Historic Mosque Walls

Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed -The AP 
Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed -The AP 

The UN cultural agency has discovered five bombs hidden within the walls of the historic al-Nouri Mosque in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, a remnant of the ISIS militant group’s rule over the area, UNESCO said in a statement Saturday.

The mosque, famous for its 12th-century leaning minaret, was destroyed by ISIS in 2017 and has been a focal point of UNESCO’s restoration efforts since 2020.

The UN agency said that five large-scale explosive devices, designed for significant destruction, were found inside the southern wall of the Prayer Hall on Tuesday.

“These explosive devices were concealed within a specially rebuilt section of the wall,” the statement said. “Iraqi authorities were promptly notified, secured the area, and the situation is now fully under control.”

It added that “one bomb has been defused and removed, while the remaining four are interconnected and will be safely disposed of in the coming days.”

Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed, The AP reported.

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the so-called caliphate from the mosque a decade ago on June 29, 2014, leading to its destruction when extremists blew it up during the battle to liberate Mosul in 2017.

The discovery of these bombs underscores ongoing challenges in clearing Mosul of explosives and revitalizing its devastated urban areas.

International efforts, supported by the United Nations, focus on mine clearance and aiding in the city’s recovery. Despite progress, much of Mosul’s old city remains in ruins, marked by minefield warning signs, highlighting the complexity of post-conflict reconstruction.

UNESCO aims to complete the full reconstruction of al-Nouri Mosque by December.