Northern Thailand's Largest Chinese Book Exhibition Opens

Chiang Mai, July 8 (Xinhuanet, by Shi Xianzhen) - Northern Thailand's largest ever Chinese book exhibition opened in Chiang Mai. The exhibition, hosted by the Confucius Classroom at Lampang Kanlayanee School and organized by Chongfahsinseung School, aimed to promote Chinese culture and for it to become a platform for exchange for people in northern Thailand.

The exhibition theme is "Read more, Learn more". To celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Sino-Thailand diplomatic ties, Zhong Haizhen, Consul of Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai, the Deputy Director of the 4th School District of Chiang Mai Education Administration, Guan Fuxing, Acting President of Chiang Mai Chongfahsinseung School Fundation, and Program Officer of the Basic Education Commission of Thai MOE cut the ribbon for the exhibition. Hundreds of visitors, including teachers and students from the two schools, delegates of educational, industrial and commercial fields and overseas Chinese people in Lampang and Chiang Mai attended the book exhibition.

Zhong Haizhen, on behalf of, Zhu Weimin, the Chinese Consul General to Chiang Maimade a speech, pointing out the fact that in past years, overseas Chinese people in northern Thailand have helped one another. They have been developing together whilst giving back to society. They have especially made efforts on the promotion of Chinese culture and Chinese Language education; they have contributed to local economic development and the increased links between the two countries. Zhong Haizhen also expressed wishes that the book exhibition would be a great success.

The Deputy Director of the 4th School District of Chiang Mai Education Administration said in a speech that Chinese culture has a long history in Thailand: the two countries share common roots. The book exhibition will offer the locals a chance to learn about Chinese culture and purchase Chinese books. He hopes that such events would be held more often in the future.

At the opening ceremony, over 300 styles, 1,500 volumes of books offered by Hanban were showcased. These included the Chinese classics Water Margin and Dream of the Red Chamber and the most popular bilingual Chinese teaching materials jointly compiled by the two countries, entitled Happy Chinese. Visitors were also able to learn about Chinese geography, science and arts using the LCD touch screen offered by Hanban. In addition, students from the Chinese Department of the Confucius Classroom at Lampang Kanlayanee School staged Chinese song, dance and tea culture performances for the audience's entertainment.

Ji Yu, Director of the Confucius Classroom at Lampang Kanlayanee School said that the book exhibition will help to ease the shortage of Chinese teaching materials in schools and Chinese teaching organizations in northern Thailand and increase the fever for reading Chinese books in the area.

The Confucius Classroom at Lampang Kanlayanee School will host another two Chinese teaching material exhibitions at Chiang Mai National Middle School in August to enable more locals to become familiar with Chinese culture.

On Nov. 21 2008, Hanban and the Thai MOE signed an agreement for the establishing of the Confucius Classroom at Lampang Kanlayanee School. The school is prestigious and has around 100 years of history. Currently there are more than 3,600 students in the school, amongst which, 1,100 are learning Chinese.