"Reading China in Serbia" bridges cultures at Belgrade book fair

"China's 5,000-year history - with its depth, mystery, and sophistication - has always fascinated Serbian readers," Neva Saravija said in an interview with Xinhua. "It offers a completely different perspective from Western cultural paradigms."

BELGRADE, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- As the 68th International Belgrade Book Fair came to a close, one image lingered: crowds gathering around the "Reading China in Serbia" stand, which showcased more than 100 China-related books in Serbian. The collection, curated since April, was the result of a joint effort between the Chinese Embassy in Serbia and Serbian publisher Cigoja Stampa.

Founded in 1956, the International Belgrade Book Fair ran this year from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2, continuing its legacy as one of the region's most important cultural events.

Neva Saravija, executive director of Cigoja Stampa, noted that over the past three decades, more than 200 titles related to China or translated from Chinese have been published in Serbia, serving as vital cultural bridges linking the two nations.

"China's 5,000-year history - with its depth, mystery, and sophistication - has always fascinated Serbian readers," Saravija said in an interview with Xinhua. "It offers a completely different perspective from Western cultural paradigms."

Saravija emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue between Eastern and Western civilizations.

"Today, we are witnessing precisely that - a vivid and expanding dialogue between Chinese and Serbian cultures," she said.

Slavoljub Kacarevic, editor at Informatika a.d., echoed the sentiment, saying that "the moment is right" to establish stronger interstate cooperation in the exchange of books and magazines between Serbia and China.

Zhang Hong, deputy general manager of China Publishing Group Co., Ltd., shared similar hopes.

"We look forward to deepening cooperation with our Serbian partners in areas such as copyright trade, co-publishing, digital distribution, and cultural exchange," he said, expressing his anticipation for more outstanding Chinese works to become available in Serbia.

Wang Guanxiong, head of the "China Corner" language and culture school and a long-time Chinese teacher in Belgrade, observed that Serbian readers' interests are diverse.

"Some are drawn to traditional Chinese medicine, others to ancient politics and military strategy, such as The Art of War. Many also appreciate Taoist and Confucian teachings," she said, noting that most of these works have been translated into Serbian or English.

Among the fair's visitors was Dejan Stankovic, accompanied by his ten-year-old son, Ilija, a fourth-grader who had spent the summer reading Chinese author Cao Wenxuan's The Grass House in Serbian translation.

"It was fascinating to learn how children in rural China live their daily lives and solve everyday problems," Ilija said.

His father added, "Everything we see or read about China makes it seem like the country is already living in the 22nd century - with amazing cities, electric cars, high-tech gadgets, and robots. I'd like to learn more about modern China through Serbian-language books." ■