Cairo, May 17 (QNA) - The broad global participation in the 35th Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) demonstrates its standing as one of the preeminent cultural exhibitions in the region and the world, the Arab Publishers Association said in a statement Sunday.

The statement noted that the fair features outstanding participation of 520-plus publishing houses from 37 nations worldwide, including hundreds of thousands of themes in the literary, scientific, cultural, and educational domains, alongside children's books, a new testament to the position of this fair as a global cultural hub that gathers thought and innovation.

The inauguration of This is Qatar as guest of honor of this iteration underscores a practical step that manifests the cultural and civilizational identity of the State of Qatar, the statement continued, affirming that this move highlights the prolific cultural scene and the diversity the nation embraces.

Recalling the record turnout from the broad public, officially, culturally, and in terms of media, the association applauded the cultural program being held alongside the fair, which largely intends to boost the culture of reading and elevate the notion of dialogue, innovation, and cultural exchange to new heights.

The statement added that this cultural demonstration featured a series of events in terms of thoughtful and cultural panel discussions, as well as interviews with writers and thought leaders, along with book signings, literary and poetry evenings.

This is in addition to children and youth workshops, as well as artistic and cultural shows, alongside sessions on publishing and the book industry.

The statement highlighted a number of events and initiatives offered by the fair to its visitors and audience, including the Reading Guide service and its associated offerings, including reading consultations and one-on-one knowledge sessions aimed at overcoming reading difficulties across different age groups.

This initiative strives to deepen the reading value in society, and ultimately draw reading amateurs from children, young people, and adults, the statement read, emphasizing that this initiative is presented throughout all days of this event to facilitate visitors' access to a plethora of booths.

It further noted that the initiative helps new readers take their first steps toward the world of books according to their proclivities, based on the wide diversity of scientific, social, religious, and historical genres.

Syria's participation in this fair through 175 diverse titles suggests the cultural presence of the country and its contribution to enriching the intellectual and knowledge scene through showcasing a variety of releases that demonstrate Syrian cultural and literary production, the statement recalled.

Noteworthy, this is the fair behemoth in its history, containing almost 910 booths that showcase over 1.85 million books, alongside over 231,000 titles in a range of knowledge fields. (QNA)