A girl in a yellow jumper sits on a chair, reading a book. [Photo/IC]

Communication through books will enhance understanding between China and the rest of the world, said a Chinese official to the 22nd Minsk International Book Fair which opened here Wednesday.

The Belarusian people have shown a great interest in China and hope to know more about the country through reading, said Yan Xiaohong, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China, and head of Chinese delegation to the book fair.

China, for the first time, is the Guest of Honor of this fair held at the Belarusian National Exhibition Center.

"For China, the exhibition is not only a platform for books and publication business, but a stage for cultural exchange among nations," Yan said in an interview with Xinhua.

As this year's Guest of Honor, China also sees the book fair an opportunity for its national publishing industry to learn from global publishers.

"China is a big publisher of books, but the industry is not strong enough," said Yan.

Deficit in the copyright trade with world leading publishers in the United States and Europe is still a problem confronting China.