Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C Front)
attends a reading activity at the National Library in Beijing, capital of
China, April 23, 2009. Premier Wen visited the National Library and the
Commercial Press on April 23, the World Book and Copyright Day. (Xinhua/Li
Xueren) Photo
Gallery>>>
BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao, an avid reader, encouraged citizens to read more and be studious and
selective in their reading on World Reading Day, which fell on Thursday.
Wen made the remarks when visiting a branch of the
Commercial Press and the National Library in Beijing Thursday.
Books are the crystallization of human wisdom and
reading is important in promoting an individual's accomplishments and state of
mind, improving citizens' quality and strength, and shaping a country's future,
he said when visiting the National Library.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) views
a treasure collected by the National Library in Beijing, capital of China,
April 23, 2009. Premier Wen visited the National Library and the
Commercial Press on April 23, the World Book and Copyright Day. (Xinhua/Li
Xueren) Photo
Gallery>>>
There's no hope for individuals and the nation if
citizens do not read, he said.
When talking to the young people in the library, Wen
said people should find time to read.
An individual could at least spare half an hour
reading about three to four pages, and hence reading more than one hundred pages
in a month and several books in a year, he said.
He said the promotion of reading was significant amid
an unprecedented global financial crisis. Overcoming this crisis requires not
only material power, but also spiritual power.
He said fundamentally, it needs people, the power of
knowledge and scientific and technological revolution to conquer this financial
crisis.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R Front)
shakes hands with a staff member of the Commercial Press in Beijing,
capital of China, April 23, 2009. Premier Wen visited the National Library
and the Commercial Press on April 23, the World Book and Copyright Day.
(Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>
Reading warm people's hearts and boost their
confidence, he said.
He also advised readers to be selective, choosing
books from insightful writers and those that were well-written, as well as those
that had stood the test of time.
Books can not change the world, but people change the
world by changing themselves through reading, he said.
He said he would love to see every passenger holding
a book on hand when riding subways.
"I always believe that knowledge gives people not
only strength, but also security and happiness," he said.
When visiting a branch store of the Commercial Press,
Wen spoke highly of the role of publication.
Without the publishing sector, culture cannot be
inherited, scientific exploration would be halted and the historical records
would not exist, he said.
He also urged efforts to publish more classical
works.
A good book requires the writers to have rich
experience, insightful minds and noble languages, and editors with strong sense
of social responsibility and a working style of preciseness, he said.
When talking to the English editors of the press, he
said the Chinese publishers should not only take the role of promoting the
construction of Chinese civilization, but also help spread the world's
civilizations.
Wen is fond of reading and has often quoted Chinese
poets and proverbs during press conferences.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C Front)
views a treasure collected by the National Library in Beijing, capital of
China, April 23, 2009. Premier Wen visited the National Library and the
Commercial Press on April 23, the World Book and Copyright Day. (Xinhua/Li
Xueren) Photo
Gallery>>>
