Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Minister Truong Minh Tuan emphasized that the Vietnam International Book Fair and Exhibition 2017 (organized by Ministry of Information and Communications once every two years) is a cultural event, a rendezvous for readers in the country and international friends to better understand Vietnam’s culture, country and people. This is a practical activity to celebrate APEC Vietnam 2017; the 40th anniversary of Vietnam's participation to the United Nations; 10 years of participation to the World Trade Organization WTO, towards the 65th anniversary of the Publishing, Printing and Distribution Sector (October, 10).
Over the past years, the management and operation of the publishing industry have been gradually reformed. The publishing industry has been more active in exchanging and cooperating with foreign countries and step by step approaching the modern publishing technologies. Vietnam e-books are beginning to grow and bring to readers more publications in more flexible and advanced ways. In international relations, Vietnam has signed MoUs with several countries in publishing. At the same time, Vietnam has become a member of many organizations such as Asia Pacific Publishing Association, ASEAN Publishing Association and ISBN International Book Code Organization. This showed that the publishing industry of Vietnam had gradually integrated into the development process, the minister emphasized.
Vietnam was one of the developing countries paying special attention to reading culture, said the minister. The Party and State of Vietnam have always identified the Book as an important tool in building the knowledge base of the community and an important driving force in national construction. Moreover, the Book is also the bridge between nations, peoples that make up the cultural life, the rich spirit of humanity. With such deep meaning, in the past years, the Party and State of Vietnam have always paid much attention to invest and create favorable conditions for publishing activities to effectively meet the demand for publications.
Attending the Vietnam International Book Fair and Exhibition 2017, readers in the country and international friends will feel a cultural space. The book fair gradually affirms its trademark as a reliable address for creating good opportunities to expand the cooperation in publishing activities between Vietnam and other countries.
