Egypt will be the guest of honor at the upcoming Venezuela International Book Fair (FILVEN) in July. This honor coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Venezuelan Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas, fresh from presenting his book Maja Mia at the Cairo International Book Fair, shared details of the upcoming cultural exchange.
“We are extremely pleased that Egypt has accepted to be our country’s guest of honor at the International Book Fair in Venezuela,” Villegas told Daily News Egypt. “The fair, obviously, is a book fair, but it is a very good excuse for all arts and all culture to be present in Venezuela, not only in July, but throughout the year.”
The fair will extend beyond the capital, reaching all states within Venezuela. “The fair will be held in all the states of the country, so it is a great opportunity to get closer from the point of view of culture,” Villegas stated, reiterating his enthusiasm for Egypt’s participation: “We are very happy that Egypt has accepted to be our country’s guest of honor at the International Book Fair in Venezuela, not only in July, but throughout the year.”
He expressed confidence that the anniversary year “will serve to raise the level of cultural exchange between the two countries.” He added, “Our Venezuelan Ambassador to Cairo Wilmer Omar Barrientos is a very dynamic ambassador, and Ambassador of Egypt in Caracas Kareem Amin and the Deputy Head of Mission Mohammad Abdel Wahab are also very dynamic.”
Villegas participated in the 54th Cairo International Book Fair last Saturday, presenting his book Maja Mia. The book, written in homage to the centenary of his mother’s birth, Maja Poljak, explores her life against the backdrop of 20th and 21st-century world events.
He emphasized the importance of cultural exchange in fostering unity and understanding: “This means that all lovers of peace can meet. With our differences and particularities, we are invited by history to unite, without losing our own physiognomy, so that we can act positively in a world like this. So, from culture, and particularly from books and reading, we are taking the right steps in the right direction.”
Source: Daily News Egypt
