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Chinese culture popular at Greek book fair
April-26-2010

The seventh Thessaloniki Book Fair is drawing to an end, yet the enthusiasm of Greek readers to the Chinese culture and learning the Chinese language remains high.

Greek people have been provided this year with an opportunity to take a good look at China, the Guest of Honor of the event this year, through the books, paintings and music displayed at the fair.

Some Chinese publisher presented their multi-media language learning material and devices, which favor the Greek readers' efforts to learn Chinese.

For those who have never learned how to speak Chinese, the Chinese exhibiters presented them with a special pen which can pronounce a Chinese character when it is pointed at, so that they can follow the pronunciation.

Dina, a Greek sociologist who is very interested in the Chinese culture, has been to China twice. She bought a set of books with CDs and the pen, saying culture is always linked with the language.

Man Xingyuan from China's Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press said it was his publishing house's maiden voyage to the Thessaloniki Book Fair.

Bringing to the fair dozens of books which sold out one day before the fair closed, they specially published the book of "900 Chinese sentences" with Greek translation before the event opened.

"The multi-media language learning books are very welcomed by Greek readers, especially the children and old people. They are fascinated with the pen which can pronounce the words. I wish this multi-media resorts can give some pleasure and fun for Greek people and help them when they are learning Chinese."

Books on the Chinese cuisine are also quite popular among the Greek readers.

During the four-day book fair from April 22 to 25, China has staged over 50 major events, such as the Chinese movie week, 3D Chinese contemporary art exhibition, seminars among the Chinese publishers and their Greek counterparts.