Sultan inaugurates Sharjah Book Fair

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, yesterday stressed the importance of reading and knowledge for bridging gaps and enhancing communication between nations.

"I urge all people, particularly youths, throughout the Arab and Islamic world to focus on reading and acquiring more knowledge through which we should communicate with other nations.

"It is by enhancing our awareness, reading habits and knowledge of the world that we can foster ties with others," the Ruler said following the inauguration of the 20th Sharjah World Book Fair at the Expo Centre yesterday.

Responding to a question by Gulf News on the role of books in spreading the message of peace around the world, Dr Sheikh Sultan said reading books will always enhance ones ability to communicate with others peacefully.

The Ruler said Arabs and Muslims should adopt the way of reasoning and dialogue in dealing with other nations instead of being nervous or careless.

"We should be wise enough to listen to people, argue with them with reasons and give them evidence about our righteous stands as we already have evidence and documents to prove our correct stands," said the Ruler.

The Ruler said culture and knowledge know no boundaries or countries. He believes that the Arabic civilisation was the outcome of interaction of various cultures in the region.

"We Arabs do not claim that the civilisation we spread in Europe in olden times was produced purely by Arabs. We actually inherited it from the Chinese, the Indian, the Persian, the Greek and other nations," said Dr Sheikh Sultan.

He stressed the importance of books even in the age of Information Technology. He believes that electronic books will have no harm whatsoever on traditional books.

Dr Sheikh sultan said the 20th Sharjah World Book fair comprises a wide range of books this year.

"There are new books which are displayed for the first time anywhere in the world. New publishing houses are also taking part for the first time. However, we need to produce books in various languages to reach out to people in China, Japan, India, Russia and other parts of the world," said the Ruler.

The Ruler particularly stressed the development made in publishing children's books this year. He said this year's fair features better quality books and new titles.

This year's book fair features over 84,000 book titles by around 700 publishing houses from 39 countries. The fair will run till November 13.

Dr Sheikh Sultan, meanwhile, said the Palestinian cause has been and will continue to be the top issue for the Arab nation.

"We should make it clear here for all Arabs, and particularly Arab leaders, that the Palestinian cause is the first cause for the Arab nation. It is the backbone for the nation, and if it is broken then the whole nation will get paralysed," the Ruler said in response to a question by Gulf News.

The Ruler warned that the Arab and Islamic nations are facing serious challenges that should be encountered with the highest sense of responsibility and preparedness.

He said despite the serious challenges encountered by the Arab and Islamic nations, yet there is great hope that they will overcome the challenges they face.