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Bangkok celebrates World Book Capital 2013

Bangkok has begun celebrating its title of World Book Capital 2013. Bangkok, which received the honour from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2011, is hosting a number of events to celebrate World Book Capital, including a conference with the topic ‘Future of Reading, Reading for Future’ at Centara Grand Convention Centre running from 21-23 April; the ‘Bangkok Books of the World’ exhibition at Siam Paragon; a ‘Reading in the clouds’ exhibition of books on the Sky Walk, which connects the Siam Paragon and Central World malls to the overhead train system; the ‘Fun Ideas Series’, a children’s event in Central World mall that will include an aquarium of floating books, prizes for children and a fairy tale theatre performance; and an exhibition featuring 35 years of Southeast Asia Writers Award, which is presented annually in Bangkok to poets and writers in Southeast Asia. Bangkok city governor Suhumbhand Paribatra said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which is running the World Book Capital events, will encourage reading among Thai people, reported Bangkok Post. Surveys found that on average, Bangkok people only read only five books per year and Paribatra said he hopes to increase this amount to 10-15 books a year. The BMA also plans to build a comic book museum and a central city library, and to increase the number of community-based libraries. The Nigerian city of Port Harcourt has been announced as World Book Capital 2014 by the UNESCO.

 

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Category: International news