Foreign experts read books in Weifang book house. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By FU Ying & LONG Yun

Weifang,  known as the "Kite Capital" and a city with a long history and vibrant culture, has been flying high in embracing international cooperation and global talent.

On May 20, the opening ceremony of its first foreign expert book house stands as a testament to Weifang's dedication to creating a conducive ecosystem for innovation and collaboration.

In 2022, Weifang was granted the first batch of "Foreign Expert Book House" in Shandong province. Currently, the book house accommodates nearly 4,000 books in 21 languages, including Chinese, English, Russian and French. The collection covers various fields such as politics, economy, culture, society, history and diplomacy.

Damiano Mariuzzo, an Italian translator who has been promoting cultural exchanges in Shandong for over a decade, told S&T Daily that, "The book house serves as a platform to bridge cultural gaps, and helps foreign experts deepen their understanding of China." He also applauded its role in helping to study the Chinese language, emphasizing the valuable resources it provides for gaining profound insights into this language.

Meanwhile French expert Mathieu Crepet has been living and working in Weifang for ten years. He told S&T Daily that he is attracted to Chinese history and how people prospered through all the country's tremendous changes. Recently, he borrowed a biography about Yuan Longping from the book house. He said his purpose was to "understand the way China has changed over the years" through the perspective of the Yuan, known in the country as the "Father of hybrid rice."

Also from France, entrepreneur Bernard Philippe, who started his business in Weifang 17 years ago, expressed a deep affection for China. To him, China feels like his second home. According to Philippe, his connection with China goes beyond the business realm. He has developed a profound appreciation for the country's rich culture, history and warm-hearted people. He is not only passionate about bridging the gap between China and the rest of the world, but also willing to share his experiences and impressions of China with his friends in France. Through his vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes, his friends have grown increasingly curious and eager to experience the wonders of China for themselves.

The book-house administrators are trying to offer a comfortable reading environment and convenient borrowing service for foreign experts. In the future, the book house will have an increased focus on its cultural exchange role, which includes providing a number of activities, such as book exchange sessions and traditional Chinese cultural experiences.

Weifang is committed to nurturing an international -friendly environment and promoting cultural exchanges, and is ready to embrace foreign experts and students to immerse themselves in the rich literary treasures and cultural experiences provided by the book house.