RIYADH — The Center for Research and Knowledge Communication (CRIK) inaugurated Monday the 2nd phase of the Saudi-Chinese Publishing Project for Classical and Modern Works. The inauguration ceremony, virtually held at CRIK"s headquarters here, was attended by the Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom Chen Weiqing, and President of the host organization Dr. Yahiya Mahmoud Bin Junaid as well as representatives from several Chinese institutions. The exhibition, which aimed to showcase the newly translated works, began with an overview of the joint project between CRIK, Beijing Normal University, and the Intercontinental Chinese Publishing House. Moreover, eight books, published within the second phase of the project, were on display at the exhibition, four of which were translated and printed in Riyadh from Chinese into Arabic, while the other four were translated and printed in Beijing from Arabic into Chinese. In a key address at the event, Junaid highlighted CRIK"s interest in Chinese culture, particularly establishing a knowledge-based communication with its institutions, covering cultural, academic and research levels. The 1st phase was inaugurated at the 2019 Beijing International Book Fair when a group of Saudi classic works was translated into Chinese. For his part, the Chinese Ambassador expressed his happiness with this cultural development, saying that it represents an important stage of cultural, research, and academic cooperation between the Kingdom and China, and strengthens the multiple bonds of communication between the two ancient civilizations and peoples. He explained the importance of the work carried out by the Center for Research and Knowledge Communication and its Chinese partners, whether in scientific conferences, discussion sessions, or joint research, which resulted in this project that feeds Chinese libraries with Saudi books and nourishes the Kingdom"s libraries with Chinese books as a profound cultural initiative. — SPA