Al-Khoja said: "We have to tell our sons and daughters we belong to a people who loved books, and they should know that our love appeared in different forms in reading and writing and the establishment of libraries."

He said the RIBF 2012 is an extension of an ancient Arab tradition that extends in time and place with the new form.

In a statement, Nasser Al-Hujailan, undersecretary for cultural affairs at the ministry and general supervisor of the book fair, said this year's expo has taken advantage of the views expressed by intellectuals and the educated class through questionnaires that were distributed during the forum last year.

He said the fair reflects the diversity and aspirations of the intelligentsia based on the input received from them.

Accordingly, the program for this year will discuss social and intellectual issues such as the culture of human rights, civil society and the future of Arab discourse on Islamic understanding and scholarship. They will also discuss topical issues such as social networking and satellite channel for children, the future of print publishing and languages that are on the verge of extinction.

There will also be a section for books on fiction and translation.

There will be a poetry session and discussions on poetry, short stories and the emerging trends in Arabic  literature. Sweden is the guest of honor this year.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Abdullah Al-Jasser pointed out that the majority of the Syrian publishers could not participate in the RIBF 2012 in view of the current situation in that country. However, some of them were able to make it in conjunction with the publishing houses in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

The ministry honored 23 Saudis, including a poet, by displaying their names in the corridors of the exhibition.

With regard to the norms for participation in the exhibition, Al-Jasser said: "We cooperate with the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and all government agencies in the exhibition. We shall take appropriate action against those violating Intellectual Property Rights or reflecting views which are contrary to the heritage and culture of society."

He confirmed that Saudi exhibitors accounted for 40-50 percent of the participants.

The exhibition includes a separate section for children's books. The authors whose books  have been found to be influential from the cultural point of view in the Kingdom are Hamad Al-Jasser, Ahmed Al-Subai, Abdulkareem Aljuhaiman, Abdul Aziz Al-Mishri and Mohammad Sadiq Diab. Seven archaeologists will be honored.

Ten outstanding books in various fields of knowledge will be honored. An online book fair will be launched which will enable one to purchase books while at home.