The Riyadh International Book Fair was opened here Tuesday by Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja. The event, which lasts for 10 days, brings together more than 650 publishing houses from more than 30 Arab and foreign countries, displaying more than 250,000 titles in Arabic, English and French. In a speech, Sharifa Al-Shamlan, lauded the reform process in the country, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. She underscored the importance of translation, hoping that it would be encouraged from other languages into Arabic. Senegal's Minister of Culture Dr. Muhammed Busali conveyed the greetings of the Senegalese President to King Abdullah and thanked the Ministry of Culture and Information for its initiative to translate a sizable number of Senegalese literature into Arabic. In a speech, Khoja said a number of leaders of cultural and intellectual forums will be honored during the event. The event was attended by a number of ministers, senior officials and a group of male and female writers.
