Roundup: China, France prominent guests at Venezuela's int'l book fair

Two countries have stood out at the 2016 International Book Fair of Venezuela (FILVEN): China and France.

The 10-day event, which kicked off last Thursday at the Teresa Carreno Theater in Caracas, was attended by 134 national and international publishers, including those from Spain, Belgium, Cuba and Russia.

In addition to its traditional stand offering books about China, the Asian giant this year features the "Digital Book Room," where visitors can download digital books as well as movies and music produced and edited by the Venezuelan government.

Sponsored by China's Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company and Huawei Technologies, the digital room has been a hit with fair-goers, featuring a variety of activities ranging from book presentations to theater performances.

"It is a digital library with around 500 titles, from books to films and music," the National Book Center's President Christian Valles told Xinhua.

While this year marks the third time in a row that China is participating in FILVEN, "it is the first time the fair has this space for downloading and exhibiting digital readers," said Valles.

France is FILVEN's guest of honor this year, and has drawn attention with two works that relate to Venezuelan revolutionary Francisco de Miranda's travels through France.

One is a children's book that tells of Miranda's participation in the French Revolution, and the other is a historic tome titled "Miranda and France in the Era of Lights and Revolutions," according to France's Ambassador to Venezuela Frederic Desagneux.

The fact that Miranda fought in battles of the French Revolution explains why this part of history these two nations share through the historical figure is celebrated, the ambassador said during the fair opening.

Miranda also took part in the American Revolutionary War and the Spanish American War, driven by a vision to unify the Spanish-dominated countries of the Americas.

"France was chosen (as guest country) due to its close ties to Francisco de Miranda. It is a historic tie that unites the two nations," Valles said.

Holding the fair despite Venezuela's economic crisis is a success in itself, he said.

"People have visited the fair, participated in a tribute to Miranda ... participated and debated. We can say we have fulfilled our objective," Valles said.

The fair has already drawn 40,000 visitors over the first four days. Endi