(By Wanchu Zhong) On November 19th, the curtains closed on the 2023 International Book Fair of Venezuela (FilVen 2023), a ten-day literary extravaganza held in the heart of Caracas. The event was graced by the personal presence of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who immersed himself in the diverse and captivating presentations showcased at various national booths. A standout feature of the fair was the much-anticipated unveiling of the academic monograph, China and Venezuela: Towards a Shared Future, a collaborative effort between the Research Center for a Community with Shared Future China-Venezuela and the Institute for a Community with Shared Future (ICSF) at the Communication University of China, capturing the attention of a global audience.
The academic monograph China and Venezuela: Towards a Shared Future presentation poster
This collaboration marked a significant milestone at this year's international book fair. Aymara Gerdel, Director of the Research Center for a Community with Shared Future China-Venezuela, Research Fellow Jorge Díaz, and other members actively engaged in promotional and presentation activities, fostering substantive discussions with readers and sharing profound insights and research findings from the monograph. Notably, Venezuela's Minister of Culture personally toured the exhibition booths during the book fair, capturing commemorative photos with the research center members.
Venezuela's Minister of Culture personally toured the exhibition booths
Published online on March 23, 2023, to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the proposal of the concept of the Human Community with a Shared Future, China and Venezuela: Towards a Shared Future is now accessible globally for free. As of November 1, 2023, the book has been perused by 45,456 individuals spanning 135 countries, including Russia, the United States, China, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, among others, with an impressive download count of 16,540.
Since its inception in 1992, the International Book Fair of Venezuela has steadily ascended to prominence, emerging as a pivotal stage for international literary discourse. A watershed moment occurred in 2019 when China, for the first time, was honored as the guest of honor, infusing renewed dynamism into the fair. Carrying the rallying cry Reading Reunites Us (Leer nos reencuentra), the 2023 edition underscored the unifying power of reading, a force capable of rekindling intellectual connections in the vast ocean of knowledge.
The presence of China and Venezuela: Towards a Shared Future at the 2023 International Book Fair of Venezuela injects a fresh intellectual impetus into the pursuit of the Human Community with a Shared Future and the realization of the Belt and Road Initiative. Offering invaluable references and substantial support, this monograph stands as a cornerstone for advancing the Belt and Road initiative and laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Human Community with a Shared Future. Through robust academic cooperation and the enthusiastic response of readers worldwide, this publication emerges as a bridge connecting diverse civilizations, fostering a collective exploration of the concept of building a Human Community with a Shared Future.