An Emirati academic was honored with the China Special Book Award at the opening of the Beijing International Fair
BEIJING, June 17, 2026 (WAM) – The United Arab Emirates, guest of honor at the 32nd edition of the Beijing International Book Fair 2026, which will be held from June 17 to 21 at the China National Convention Center in the capital, Beijing, is a new confirmation of the depth of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the UAE and the People’s Republic of China, and of the growing position that culture and knowledge occupy in the process of cooperation between the two friendly countries.
The UAE’s participation in the opening ceremony of the exhibition was in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, His Excellency Hussein bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the People’s Republic of China, and His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, along with a number of senior cultural officials, publishers and thinkers from the UAE, China and various countries of the world.
The event witnessed the honoring of Professor Dr. Muhammad Musa Muhammad Bin Huiden, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University, by awarding him the “China Special Book Award” in its nineteenth session, which is the highest award granted by the publishing industry in the People’s Republic of China to international figures in recognition of their contributions to enhancing cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and countries of the world. His Excellency Li Shulet, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Head of the Committee’s Information Department, presented the award to Dr. Muhammad Bin Huiden during the honoring ceremony held on the sidelines of the opening of the exhibition.
This honor comes in appreciation of Dr. Mohammed Bin Howiden’s contributions to supporting Chinese studies and enhancing academic and cultural communication between the UAE and the People’s Republic of China, which contributed to consolidating bridges of knowledge and deepening understanding between the two friendly peoples.
The UAE’s participation as guest of honor at the 32nd session of the Beijing International Book Fair comes in light of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the UAE and the People’s Republic of China, and the qualitative achievements it has achieved in various economic, commercial, technological and cultural fields, which reflects the shared vision of the leadership of the two countries towards building a future based on innovation, sustainable development and common prosperity.
His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, said that the UAE’s participation as a guest of honor in the 2026 Beijing International Book Fair embodies its firm vision that culture is an essential partner in building international relations, deepening understanding between peoples, and consolidating the UAE’s national identity as a model of human values open to the world, adding that this global cultural event constitutes a strategic platform to highlight the UAE’s cultural presence on the international scene.
He added: “We are working to strengthen the position of Emirati culture as an influential soft power that contributes to opening new horizons for cultural and creative industries, and expanding areas of international cooperation in publishing, translation and knowledge production. The “Emirati House” at the Beijing exhibition represents an effective space for building qualitative partnerships with the People’s Republic of China in the fields of creative economy, cultural innovation and modern technologies, in a way that achieves common interests and opens new paths for cultural exchange between the two countries.”
His Excellency stressed that the cultural relations between the UAE and the People’s Republic of China are a role model for civilizational cooperation based on mutual respect and cultural openness, noting that the next stage will witness the expansion of cultural exchange programs and the launch of joint initiatives in the fields of publishing, translation, cognitive research, and cultural and creative industries, which will contribute to building sustainable bridges of communication between the Emirati and Chinese societies.
The UAE pavilion is embodied in the “Emirati House”, which is organized by the UAE Embassy in the People’s Republic of China in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, and constitutes an integrated national platform that reflects the richness and diversity of the UAE cultural scene, and highlights the achievements made by the country in the fields of publishing, translation, cultural content manufacturing and creative industries.
The “Emirati House” brings together an elite group of Emirati cultural and academic institutions, publishing houses, and creative entities, which showcase their pioneering experiences and initiatives in the fields of culture, the Arabic language, heritage, content creation, and the creative economy, in a way that reflects the vitality and diversity of the Emirati cultural scene, and enhances opportunities for cooperation and building partnerships with its Chinese and international counterparts.
The pavilion offers a diverse cultural and professional program that includes more than 20 dialogue sessions and specialized events dealing with Emirati-Chinese cultural relations, the future of publishing and translation, cultural and creative industries, advanced technology, intellectual property, and knowledge exchange between civilizations, in addition to a number of activities directed at children and families, and artistic and cultural performances that reflect the richness and originality of the Emirati heritage. It also hosts art exhibitions, signing ceremonies, and professional meetings that contribute to strengthening communication between publishers, creators, and cultural institutions from around the world.
The “Emirati House” includes a group of cultural initiatives and interactive experiences inspired by the Emirati heritage, allowing visitors to learn about the elements of the country’s cultural identity and its distinguished values of openness, tolerance and cultural diversity.
The opening ceremony included artistic and cultural performances from the UAE and the People’s Republic of China, which reflected the rich cultural heritage of the two countries and contributed to highlighting the role that culture and arts play in promoting rapprochement between peoples and consolidating the values of dialogue and civilizational understanding.
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