UN Publications took part in the 31st edition of the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), one of the world’s most influential literary events.
Held under the theme Promoting the Inheritance and Development of Civilizations and Fostering Exchange, Mutual Learning, and Win-Win Cooperation, the fair welcomed a record 1,700 exhibitors and nearly 300,000 visitors from 110 countries and regions.
Representing the United Nations, Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, participated in several high-level discussions, positioning the Organization as a thought leader on issues of information integrity.
With Malaysia as the fair’s guest of honour, the Malaysian Book Publishers Association invited Ms. Fleming to speak on the role of publishers in today’s world. She was joined by Gvantsa Jobava, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA), and Mingzhou Zhang, Chinese publisher and Congress ambassador.
During the session, Ms. Fleming emphasized the responsibility of publishers to prioritize books that offer accurate, timely information on critical global issues – content that can help change the world for the better.
Artificial intelligence in publishing was the central focus at the opening of the Beijing International Publishing Forum, where Ms. Fleming addressed the growing threat posed by the constant stream of disinformation and misinformation eroding trust in facts, news, and science.
She highlighted the latest UN recommendations for a healthy and safe information ecosystem, emphasizing that “digital actors need to be held accountable for the information they publish, and social media must promote facts. AI players need to respect copyright, licenses, and human rights.”
Ms. Fleming also spoke at the panel Innovative Pathways of Children’s Book Publishing in the New Era, which was part of the BIBF World Children’s Book Forum. She urged publishers to “publish diverse voices from all over the world - particularly from the vulnerable groups under attack and misunderstood in our digital age.”
As part of the United Nations booth at the Silk Road Publishers Club stand, UN Publications showcased a selection of flagship titles to one of the world’s fastest-growing book markets. From Frieda Makes a Difference to The Essential UN, visitors were invited to explore the breadth of publications produced across the United Nations system.
Mary Glenn, Chief of UN Publications, engaged with numerous publishers to promote the UN iLibrary, the SDG Publishers Compact, the SDG Book Club, and the broader catalogue of UN publications.
