The book fair also features a photos exhibition on "beautiful China". [Photo provided to China Daily]

"The book shows China's open attitude to communicate better with the international society and targets some of the misunderstanding," Chebaro says. "I'm impressed by the idea of always putting people's interest first."

Egyptian publisher Ahmed Elsaid says the world is interested in learning more about China as its importance grows, and "as you learn more, you'll love its culture more".

The Chinese way of thinking, tradition and culture are attracting readers to dig deeper, Elsaid says.

Elsaid has found himself busy on the international book-fair circuit in recent years.

"That means my team and I are getting more recognition. I started out trying to offer Arabic readers more choices in Chinese titles, (and) now I'm exerting myself to present China and its charm through books," he says.

Under the translation agreements between China and some Arab countries reached during the Algiers fairs over the years, 130 titles were selected to represent the fruits of the projects.

Liang Yanshun, a senior official of the publicity department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said at the China-Arab Publishing Culture Forum at the fair that the two countries have been supporting each other, and have formed friendships in the process.

Liang says many stories of the links between the people of the two countries are being told through books.

China had published 17 titles by Algerian authors, and Algeria had published 23 Chinese titles before this year's book fair, he says.

Nour Cherkit, an Algeria Press Service correspondent, says: "Today, with the economic relations between China and Algeria, things are getting better and better. We are seeing translations of works by great Chinese authors, and there is more exchange between our two countries, (and) the book fair is a beautiful bridge of exchanges."

Algerian publishers say they take China as an important partner, and they respect China for being an ancient civilization like the Arabic civilization.

Assia Moussei, the founder of Algerian El-Ikhtilef (meaning "difference") Publishing, is also a medical doctor.

"We're attracted to Chinese history and its present-day stories, experiences and culture," Moussei says.

At first she thought the Algerians' interest was in Western stories and books. Later, after "market tests", she found her readers' eagerness to know about what's happening in China.

The Arab world is happy to see China's rise, she says.

She initially believed the interest was limited to literature. Then, she discovered the fields extended to politics, economics, society, history, culture and children's books.

Her press has released books on China's anti-corruption campaigns and an encyclopedia of history.

Her views are shared by Esraa Abdel Sayed Hassan, director of the Chinese-language department at Ain Shams University in Cairo.

Hassan has been learning, teaching and translating Chinese for 30 years.

"The Arabic readers' interests are wide, and we have yet more to discover and explore about China," Hassan says, adding that she just finished working on the Arabic version of an ancient classic on science and technology by Song Yingxing of the 17th century, and the Fifteen Lectures on Chinese History.

As to the Chinese side, Beijing Publishing Group has cooperated with Arabic publishers since 2007. A total of 100 titles were sold, including novels, essays and children's books.

Huang Jian, president of Jieli Publishing House, the organizer of a publishing forum on children's books during the fair, says he sees promising prospects for the children's book market there. "The Arabic readers tend not to be rejective of Chinese content and thinking for its strengthening of harmony and peace."

Take Algeria, for example - 32 percent of its total population are younger than age 15, while 63.8 percent are under 30.

Hans Anderson Award winner Cao Wenxuan brought some of his key works in the Arabic language to the fair. Writer Zhao Lihong released a new book about dealing with fear, inspired by his son's notes, to local readers.

Children's works were the highlights on the fair. Other works include Moon Stage, Sister Wanda Can Help and Clumsy Wolf.