Chinese vice president calls for enhancing cultural exchanges at Frankfurt Book Fair

From Oct. 14 to Oct. 18, the Chinese side and the host will stage over 600 Guest of Honor events, aimed at showcasing Chinese culture and boosting dialogue between Chinese scholars and their foreign counterparts.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel when they attend the opening ceremony of the Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt,  Germany, Oct. 13, 2009. China is the Guest of Honor  for the Frankfurt Book Fair.(Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Xi said China upholds the idea of building a harmonious world with sustained peace and common prosperity.

Thanks to the exchanges among various cultures, people from different countries could get to know Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) from Germany, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) from Britain and Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) from China, Xi noted.

Frankfurt is the hometown of Goethe, the famous German writer and poet.

Cultural exchanges require understanding and respect, as well as overcoming discrimination and misunderstanding in this regard, Xi said.

Cultural diversity, which is a part of human society, should be maintained to build a more colorful world instead of becoming obstacles for cultural exchanges and reasons for conflicts, Xi said.