November 21: The South Asia International Book Fair 2023 kicked off in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The event was jointly organized by the Federation of Nepal Books and Stationery Business and the Current Media and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd.

Inaugurating the five-day event, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' emphasized on the need of changing education system.

Prime Minister Dahal said that the government had tabled the school education bill on the parliament to enhance the quality of education in the country.

Similarly, Ambassador of China to Nepal Chen Song expressed the hope that the book fair would prove to be important to spread the message of civilisation, peace, development and the exchange of cross-Himalayan culture.

Chinese envoy noted that China was always committed to the development and progress of human civilisation.

Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Dhanraj Acharya urged the government to policy on book as books are of paramount significance to the people and world.

Likewise, Chairperson of the National Examinations Board (NEB) Dr Mahashram Sharma argued that big neighbours such as China and India and their reading culture could contribute to the prosperity and development of the country by promoting reading culture.

On the occasion, Dr Sanduk Ruit, who has gained global reputation as eye doctor, was felicitated.

The book exhibition has 180 stalls of book publishers, producers and distributors from over 15 countries including Nepal, India, China, Bangladesh, the United States of America, and Egypt, said the Federation President Sanjaya Chaudhary. (RSS)