Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohiuddin Khoja inaugurated here yesterday evening Riyadh International Book Fair for this year entitled ' The Book, An Arch of Civilization' in the presence of Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Jasser, President of Saudi Press Agency (SPA) Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Hussein, and the Ministry's Undersecretaries. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Khoja said, 'I am honored on this occasion to express my best thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his patronage of Riyadh International Book Fair, which comes as an extension of his care and interest in thought, culture, science, arts and literature, conveying to you the greetings of the leadership and its best wishes of all success for you.' Dr. Khoja added that this is the Fair's 8th year and the Kingdom is enriched by further progress and prosperity and its scientific and knowledgeable assets increase in the service of humanity as a whole. He said, ' We are happy to host the Kingdom of Spain as the guest of honor at Riyadh International Fair for this year, whose vital presence among us will be a source of culture, knowledge and dialogue with the Spanish friendly people and their ancient culture''. In a press statement, Dr. Khoja stressed that the Fair has been improving every year compared to the previous years until it became the most important and best Fair in the Arab world and one of the most important international fairs. In his speech, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain Joaquin Perth Bilanueba said that the Kingdom of Spain is pleased to participate in Riyadh International Book Fair this year for being one of international, prominent and distinctive fairs, expressing his country's thanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Government and people, for hosting the Kingdom of Spain as the guest of honor at the Fair this year'. Then the Minister of Culture and Information honored the pioneers of Arabic calligraphy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the winners of Ministry of Culture and Information Award of Book for this year. It is noteworthy that more than 900 publishing houses, agents, and public and private institutions from 31 countries are taking part in the Fair.
