CICG to work with Belarus on publishing 'The Biography of Minsk'

An international publication cooperation signing ceremony is held for a new book titled "The Biography of Minsk" at the 31st Minsk International Book Fair on March 15, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Foreign Languages Press under China International Communications Group (CICG) and Belarusian publishing house Mastatskaya Litaratura will jointly publish "The Biography of Minsk," as part of the "Biographies of Silk Road Cities" series, according to a cooperation agreement signed Friday at the 31st Minsk International Book Fair.

The Belarusian edition of the book will be published by Mastatskaya Litaratura, while the Chinese and other foreign-language editions will be published by Foreign Languages Press, the agreement notes.

Igor Buzovskiy, deputy minister of information of the Republic of Belarus, speaks at the international publication cooperation signing ceremony of "The Biography of Minsk" in Minsk, Belarus, on March 15, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Speaking at the signing event, Igor Buzovskiy, deputy minister of information of the Republic of Belarus, said he had visited China five times and was impressed by China's changes and development. He said learning from China's development has been instrumental in shaping Belarus's future, which is deeply intertwined with the relationship between Belarus and China. 

Buzovskiy noted that cooperation between the two countries in various fields has yielded fruitful results and the signing ceremony held great significance for publication cooperation and bilateral relations. He said he hopes to further enhance cultural exchange between the two sides through the publication of the biography. 

Xie Xiaoyong, Chinese ambassador to Belarus, speaks at the international publication cooperation signing ceremony of "The Biography of Minsk" in Minsk, Belarus, on March 15, 2024. [Photo/CICG] 

As the first series of biographies of large cities, "Biographies of Silk Road Cities" is a fresh attempt to advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity through publications, said Xie Xiaoyong, Chinese ambassador to Belarus. 

Xie said that "The Biography of Minsk" improves Minsk's influence as a renowned city along the Silk Road, showcases the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership of China and Belarus, and fosters cooperation between the two countries in translation and publication. 

Chen Shi, deputy editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG), speaks at the international publication cooperation signing ceremony of "The Biography of Minsk" in Minsk, Belarus, on March 15, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Chen Shi, CICG's deputy editor-in-chief, said CICG is honored to work with its Belarusian counterpart to publish the city biography. She hopes to take this opportunity to enhance communication with all sectors of Belarus and deepen cooperation in fields like book translation, journalism, communication, think tank research, and translation education.