The 5th "Sunshine Reading Program" was jointly launched by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) and China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co.,Ltd. on the sidelines of the 31st Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in Beijing on June 20.

Shen Beili, Vice-Chairperson of the CSCLF, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. She said that the special reading program was unveiled by the CSCLF and China National Publications Import & Export Company in 2021 to build a bridge of communication worldwide and promote cultural exchanges as well as mutual learning between different civilizations through books.

During the past five years, the special reading program has met warm response from Chinese embassies and consulates in over 50 countries as well as more than 60 major domestic publishing houses, and created widespread and positive influence across the world.

Shen said that their concerted efforts will help more international youths find their favorite and high-quality Chinese books that are integrated with Chinese culture and align with international mindset. She added that the CSCLF will carry forward noble ideals of Madame Soong, build the special reading programs as well as other cultural exchange projects into major platforms for the dialogue between fine Chinese culture and the world, and showcase to the world a thriving, confident, and open China.

Those in attendance of the inaugural ceremony included Zhang Zehui, Director of the Import and Export Administration Bureau of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee; Zhang Jichen, Deputy General-Manager of China Publishing & Media Co., Ltd; and Li Hongwen, Executive Board Member of China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co.,Ltd. Chinese Ambassador to Chile Niu Qingbao addressed the ceremony via video link. In addition to Zhang and Li, other speakers at the ceremony in person were Gu Jun, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Sinolingua Teaching Press, and Furong, Head of the Oriental Knowledge Bookstore in Tunisia.

The theme of the 5th "Sunshine Reading Program" was "My Book and My Dream." The event collaborated with renowned domestic educational publishers, including Sinolingua Teaching Press and People's Education Press, to use Chinese books as a bridge. It aimed to encourage and guide overseas Chinese-learning youths to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and feel the pulse of China's development while learning the language and enjoying reading.