Books and cultural products from China have taken centre stage at an exhibition in Nairobi aimed at strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa.
The exhibition, which opened on Thursday at the Sarit Centre alongside the Nairobi International Book Fair, features more than 600 Chinese cultural products, including books, traditional cultural items and interactive displays.
The event is part of the second China Culture Touring Exhibition in Africa and is being held under the theme, ‘Books Bring Us Together, Discovering China Through Reading’.
Xiong Liguo, assistant general manager of Xiamen International Book Company Limited, told the Star that the exhibition was intended to give Kenyans an opportunity to learn more about Chinese literature and culture.
“It provides us with an opportunity for foreigners to appreciate Chinese literature. We also have a chance to sample other countries’ books to showcase to Chinese readers,” he said.
The exhibition has a dedicated China-themed area divided into three sections covering book publishing, Chinese cultural and creative products and an interactive cultural experience.
The book section features more than 300 titles from Chinese publishers, covering traditional Chinese culture, Chinese language learning, fiction, comics and children's books.
It also includes different editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, alongside works from leading Chinese publishing houses.
The organisers said the collection is intended to cater for readers interested in learning Chinese, understanding China's culture and exploring its social and economic development.
The cultural and creative products section brings together traditional Chinese heritage and modern designs.
Among the items on display are stationery inspired by the Southern Song Dynasty Bookshop, calligraphy-themed canvas bags, panda plush toys and other products featuring elements of southern Fujian culture.
Some of the products attracted strong interest from visitors, with panda keychains among the popular items.
The organisers said some of the Chinese-inspired cultural products had sold out within hours of the exhibition opening.
Visitors have also been given an opportunity to experience Chinese traditions through the interactive section.
The area features traditional Hanfu clothing, flower hairpins and lacquer fans, with visitors allowed to try the traditional attire and make their own fans.
The activities attracted long queues as visitors sought to experience Chinese culture first-hand.
The exhibition also provided an opportunity for Chinese and Kenyan publishing houses to explore business partnerships.
Chinese delegates and African publishers held discussions on copyright trade, joint content development and processing services.
A team from the Chinese embassy in Kenya led by Culture Counselor Tang Jiangjun and Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi explained the significance of the display to attendees.
The organisers said African publishers had expressed interest in acquiring rights to Chinese literature, fiction, children's books and picture books for their local markets.
The Chinese delegation also visited cultural and educational institutions in Kenya to discuss opportunities for cooperation in cultural and educational exchanges.
The exhibition comes as China and Africa mark 2026 as the Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with both sides seeking to deepen interaction beyond trade and infrastructure.
Xiamen International Book Company Limited, which is organising the exhibition, was established in 1989 through a joint investment by the China International Communications Group and the Xiamen Municipal People's Government.
The state-owned cultural enterprise has businesses covering book import and export, publishing, cultural exhibitions, international education and cultural trade.
It works with more than 500 Chinese publishing institutions and has partnerships with overseas publishers, booksellers and Chinese schools across five continents.
The company says it exports about three million books annually and has developed cultural exhibition programmes in Southeast Asia, North America, Latin America and Africa.
The Nairobi exhibition is the Kenyan stop of the second China Culture Touring Exhibition in Africa and is being held concurrently with the Nairobi International Book Fair.
