MINSK, 8 February (BelTA) – The 24th Minsk International Book Fair will open in the Belarusian capital on 8 February, BelTA learned from the Information Ministry of Belarus.

Representatives of 31 countries are expected to take part in the book forum which is to stay open through 12 February. Among the participants will be Belarus, Azerbaijan, the UK, Venezuela, Germany, Israel, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, South Korea, Cuba, Moldova, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Russia, Syria, Serbia, Slovakia, the United States, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Ecuador. Greece will take part in the exhibition for the first time.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be the Guest of Honor at the 24th International Book Fair in Minsk. The program will be divided into three main sections: publishing business, the English language and education opportunities in the UK. Visitors will learn about the modern British literature, licensing and copyright law, learning and teaching the English language, British Council online resources, preparations for the IELTS exam, study grants in the UK, educational visas, journalism, translations.

The UK stand will hold a presentation of English language schools, UK universities, business education in Minsk, translations of the British literature into Belarusian and the Belarusian literature into English. The program will also include a presentation of the Francysk Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum in London.

Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China, Armenia and a number of other countries were the Guest of Honor at the expo in different years.

The exhibition will include nearly 300 events. The events will celebrate 500 years of the Belarusian book printing, the 135th birthdays of Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas as well as anniversaries of Pimen Panchenko, Yanka Bryl and other out standing writers.

The events will include the awards ceremony of the national contest Art of the Book, the international literary symposium entitled Writer and Time. Winners of the contest of young writers Pershatsvet will be presented with awards at the forum for the first time.

The 24th Minsk International Book Fair will be held at the national exhibition center BelExpo (14 Pobeditelei Avenue). The forum is organized by the Belarusian Information Ministry, Minsk City Hall and the bookselling companies Belkniga and Makbel. The entry is free.