People visit the Beirut International and Arab Book Fair in Beirut, Lebanon, Dec. 3, 2022. The 64th edition of the Beirut International and Arab Book Fair opened on Saturday. The book fair, which will last until Dec. 11, has attracted around 133 publishing houses and will include 24 symposiums for people to interact and discuss various topics. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

 
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati inaugurated the 64th edition of the Beirut International and Arab Book Fair on Saturday.

The book fair, which will last until Dec. 11, has attracted around 133 publishing houses and will include 24 symposiums for people to interact and discuss various topics.

In a statement released by the Council of Ministers, Mikati highlighted the broad participation of Arab publishers in the fair, describing it as a cultural landmark where writers can interact with readers.

"People from Lebanon and Arab countries wait for the opening of this event to witness this warm and direct meeting between the reader and the book, and most of the time, between the reader and the writer," he said.

The first edition of the book fair was held in the mid-1950s, making it one of the oldest book fairs in the Arab region.