Silk Road International Library Alliance Conference in Nanjing promotes cultural exchange and sustainable library cevelopment among Belt and Road countries

The Silk Road International Library Alliance Conference took place in Nanjing, Jiangsu province on Tuesday to facilitate the collaborative development of library industries among Belt and Road Initiative countries and promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

Themed “Cultural Inheritance and Sustainable Development of Libraries”, the conference brought together over 80 directors and expert representatives from 26 institutions across 15 countries, including Bangladesh, Iran, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and China.

Hosted by the National Library of China, the conference was attended by Zhang Jianping, deputy director of the international exchange and cooperation department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Chen Ying, Party secretary and deputy director of the National Library of China.

Chen emphasized the National Library of China’s role in enhancing cooperation with member units, optimizing Alliance management mechanisms, and fostering practical collaboration to strengthen cultural hubs along the Belt and Road.

During the conference, representatives from member institutions of the Silk Road International Library Alliance shared case studies and best practices in cultural inheritance within libraries, exchanging insights on sustainable library development based on their unique contexts.

Since its establishment in 2018, the Alliance has expanded its reach, with 51 institutions from 39 countries now part of the network.

Through initiatives like the “Silk Road Digital Library” website, efforts have been made to advance digital library development along the Silk Road, enabling cross-border access to valuable resources and documents.

The Alliance has organized librarian training workshops and academic forums related to the Belt and Road Initiative, establishing a cooperation framework that promotes resource sharing, talent development, and information exchange among member institutions.

With the Alliance’s support, bilateral exchanges and multilateral cooperation among libraries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have deepened, yielding significant outcomes.

The Alliance’s role in fostering the coordinated development of library industries among Belt and Road countries continues to grow, enhancing its influence in international library affairs.

Guo Jun contributed to the story.