39th Kuwait International Book Fair kicks off

Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah on Wednesday paid tribute to the National Council for Culture, Letters and Arts (NCCLA) for spreading culture and knowledge amid the Kuwaiti society.
Sheikh Salman, also head of the NCCLA, voiced his praise in a press conference after he opened the 39th Kuwait International Book Fair on behalf of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
The fact that the Kuwait International Book Fair continued over the years is evidence of the high concern by country's political leadership about education, culture and awareness, the Minister told the conference.
He also referred to the cultural activities prepared by the NCCLA on the sidelines of the Fair, as part of the efforts to disseminate culture and knowledge among Kuwaitis of different ages.
The activities will be held under "Kuwait a world humanitarian center." Sheikh Salman stressed the need for further efforts through a clear vision and strategy to boost cultural life in a bid to protect future generations against extremism. State bodies in charge of education as well as private ones must be involved.
Following the opening, the Minister toured some Arab and foreign pavilions.
The Kuwait Book Fair is a major Arab cultural event, enjoying a prominent place on the Arab map, after Beirut and Cairo Fairs, director of the fair Saad Al-Mutairi, said.
Up to 520 publishers are taking part in the Fair, Al-Mutairi added, pointing to the cultural soirees, seminars and meetings with prominent cultural figures, intellectuals, authors and poets, to be held during the Fair days.