The Taipei International Book Exhibition kicked off on Tuesday and will host over 300 activities throughout the week. Poland is the “guest of honor” for this year’s showcase, and President Tsai Ing-wen visited on opening day alongside Polish Office in Taipei Director Cyryl Kozaczewski and other Polish guests.
Tsai thanks the Culture Ministry for promoting reading and the efforts of Taiwanese authors, bookstores, and publishers. She says showcases like this encourage international exchange and allow Taiwan to share its culture with the rest of the world.
Newly appointed Culture Minister Shih Che (史哲) says Taiwan has annually spent NT$370 million (US$12.3 million) for the past seven years to support Taiwanese publishers. He says the ministry will continue its efforts to promote literature as a way to strengthen people’s critical thinking skills.
The book fair also aims to promote net zero carbon emissions by forgoing paper tickets, using digital signs, and building installations with environmentally friendly materials. The exhibition features sections devoted to Polish literature and other foreign books, children’s books, manga, Chinese-language literature, and more.