Role of Books in Promoting Country’s Culture Highlighted

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei underscored the role of books in the cultivation of Iran’s unique culture. 
“Promotion of the country’s culture always requires books. Despite the spread of cyberspace, books still hold a preeminent position,” Ayatollah Khamenei said during a three-hour visit to the 34th Tehran International Book Fair on Sunday, Leader.ir reported.
This was the first time in three years that the Leader personally paid a visit to the annual book fair post-Covid-19. The Leader was accompanied by Culture Minister Mohammad Mahdi Esmaeili and spent time talking to stall owners and publishers.   
“Production of good art and media content requires books and reading,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated, “I always encourage people, especially the young, to read books.”
He expressed satisfaction with the book fair and called it a “huge national convention” and reminded publishers to consider the translation of books written by Iranian writers. 
The Leader emphasized the need for the publication of books that target children and adolescents so that there would be no need for foreign books. 
He also addressed some of the problems facing publications including the expensive price of paper and its low quality in Iran. 
According to Esmaeili, the country is taking steps toward the production of high quality and less expensive paper that can lower book prices around the country.
For the second time in the history of the fair, a virtual exhibition has been launched at www.ketab.ir at the same time to make books available to anyone in Iran. 
The exhibition is scheduled to run until May 20 from 10 in the morning to 8 pm.