China as guest of honor

This year China celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Communist Rule. To learn about that country and all its riches, the International Fair of Monaco -open from October 10 to 18- has named it Guest of Honor. Culture, folklore, traditions and handicrafts will be presented in a space dedicated to this land, known as one of the oldest cradle of civilization in the world. Monaco being Monaco, no controversy is expected at this Fair. Not so in Germany where China will also be the guest of honor at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair. Already some controversy has arisen over a debate about perceptions of modern China after Chinese authorities have struck from the list of participants Bei Ling, an exiled writer, and Dai King, a journalist. Even if Tie Ning, the chairwoman of the Chinese Writers’ Association, said that “Artists enjoy great liberties in China. We are enthusiastically looking forward to the open exchange of opinions that will take place in Frankfurt,” it is well known that China bans hundreds of books every year.