China Book Center inaugurated at Brazil's Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

A China Book Center, jointly established by China International Communications Group (CICG) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), was inaugurated at UFRJ's Faculty of Letters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 13.

Xie Gang, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the China Book Center at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

In his remarks, CICG Vice President Xie Gang said that CICG has long been committed to international communication and cultural exchanges between China and other countries, and that publishing and translation have long served as a bridge for dialogue between civilizations. He noted that in April this year, Blossom Press, a publisher under CICG, published the Chinese edition of "The Brazilian People: The Formation and Meaning of Brazil," which offers Chinese readers a deeper understanding of Brazilian culture and society. The newly established China Book Center brings together quality publications in fields including politics, economy, science and technology, and culture, presenting both fine traditional Chinese culture and Chinese modernization, he added.

Xie said the center will continue to update its collection and host cultural salons, lectures, reading sessions, and other activities on a regular basis. It will also promote book translation, scholar visits, and youth exchanges, aiming to turn itself from a repository of books into a dynamic platform for mutual learning between civilizations.

Roberto de Andrade Medronho, rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), delivers remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the China Book Center at UFRJ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

UFRL Rector Roberto de Andrade Medronho said the China Book Center is not only a space for books, but also a new platform for intellectual exchange and academic collaboration. Books, he said, bring people closer and facilitate communication across languages. He said relations between Brazil and China should not be limited to trade, investment, or infrastructure development; it should also be built on education for younger generations, cultural exchange, academic dialogue and scientific cooperation.

Medronho added that CICG has played an important role in promoting Chinese culture and dialogue among world civilizations, and expressed the hope that the two sides will further deepen cooperation between Brazilian and Chinese universities in research, education, and culture.

Tian Min, Chinese consul general in Rio de Janeiro, delivers remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the China Book Center at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Tian Min, Chinese consul general in Rio de Janeiro, said the establishment of the China Book Center provides faculty members and students at UFRJ with a window to better understand China's history, culture, and social development, and offers people from various sectors in Brazil an important platform to gain a true, multidimensional, and comprehensive understanding of China.

Through books, Tian said, readers can appreciate China's 5,000-year civilization and gain a better understanding of contemporary China's development achievements and openness. The consul general said she hopes the center will become a welcoming space for China-Brazil cultural exchanges, attracting more young Brazilians to learn about China and serve as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries.

Afranio Gonçalves Barbosa, dean of the Center for Letters and Arts of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), delivers remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the China Book Center at UFRJ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Afranio Gonçalves Barbosa, dean of UFRJ's Center for Letters and Arts, reviewed the 16 years of exchanges between UFRJ and China, including academic collaboration and joint education programs. He said he hopes the China Book Center will become a new platform for advancing cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and Brazil.

Xie Gang (R), vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), and Roberto de Andrade Medronho, rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, attend the signing ceremony for the China Book Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Guests attend the inauguration ceremony of the China Book Center at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Brazilian readers browse books at the inauguration ceremony of the China Book Center at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

The inauguration ceremony of the China Book Center is held at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2026. [Photo/CICG]