Antara News·Indonesia·Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 03:15 PM UTC

China donates 100 book titles to Indonesia's National Library

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Lintang Budiyanti Prameswari, Cindy Frishanti Octa

Books allow a nation to tell its own story, while libraries provide a space for that story to be read, studied, and understood by other nations,

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas) said a donation of 100 book titles from 11 Chinese publishing institutions would expand public access to information while strengthening cultural diplomacy through literacy.

Speaking at a book handover ceremony in Jakarta on Saturday, Head of the National Library E. Aminudin Aziz said the donated titles had undergone a selection and curation process in accordance with the library's collection development principles. The process took into account user needs, accessibility, relevance, subject diversity, collection condition, and suitability as sources of information and reference materials.

"For us, what has been handed over today is not merely a set of books to expand the library's collection. Each book contains knowledge, experience, ideas, and a record of a society's development that other societies can study," Aziz said.

The donated collection covers a wide range of subjects. Thirty-two titles consist of children's literature, picture books, and early childhood learning materials, while 19 titles focus on governance and international cooperation.

The collection also includes 14 titles on classical literature, history, and academic studies, as well as 13 titles covering travel, regional culture, and popular reference materials.

In addition, two titles focus on Chinese language and cultural education, while 10 others cover vocational, technical, and applied education. The collection's diverse subject matter is expected to offer a wider range of reading materials for library users.

Aziz said libraries serve as spaces where knowledge from different societies converges. They enable people to explore the thoughts, cultures, histories, and development of other nations, transcending geographical boundaries.

The addition of the donated books is expected to broaden Indonesian readers' access to information about China.

"Books allow a nation to tell its own story, while libraries provide a space for that story to be read, studied, and understood by other nations," he said.

The donated collection will be managed in accordance with the National Library's regulations and collection management policies to ensure access for readers, students, researchers, academics, and the general public.

Meanwhile, Chinese Embassy Cultural Counselor Wang Siping said books serve as a medium for cultural exchange and learning across civilizations.

The donated collection spans various subjects, including culture, history, literature, science and technology, and Chinese language learning.

"We hope these books will provide Indonesian readers with information about China and foster exchanges between intellectuals and academics from both countries, particularly given the limited availability of collections on Chinese culture in Indonesia," Wang said.

Beyond giving Indonesians an opportunity to learn about China through library resources, the initiative is also expected to raise awareness of Indonesia in China.

Greater exposure to Indonesian publications could help Chinese readers gain a deeper understanding of Indonesia's history, language, literature, and cultural diversity.

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