The Shandong Friendship Publishing House opened a Nishan Book House on Oct 24 at the Richmond Public Library in Vancouver, a seaport city in western Canada.

The book house is the first of its kind in Canada and it is the 36th overseas branch of Nishan Book House, a bookstore chain sponsored by the Shandong Friendship Publishing House as a vital project to promote traditional Chinese culture.

Nishan, or Mount Ni, located in Qufu, Shandong province, is regarded as the birthplace of Confucius, the great ancient Chinese educator and philosopher.

Founded in 1986, the Shandong Friendship Publishing House is a professional publishing company affiliated with the Shandong Publishing Group. It has set up several branches that implement the going-out strategy of culture.

Jointly organized by the Shandong Friendship Publishing House and the Canadian Multicultural Development Foundation, the opening ceremony received the attendance of over 60 distinguished guests.

Zhang Zhihua, president of Shandong Publishing Group, made a speech extending gratitude to local organizations for their support.

"The Nishan Book House will serve as a channel to tell China's stories and promote Chinese culture. It will organize varied activities to enhance cultural exchanges between the two peoples," Zhang said.

The Shandong Friendship Publishing House and the Canadian Multicultural Development Foundation also signed a strategic cooperative agreement during the ceremony.

The launching ceremony of the Nishan Book House is held on Oct 24 at the Richmond Public Library in Vancouver, a seaport city in western Canada. [Photo/sdyouyi.com.cn]

Zhang Zhihua, president of Shandong Publishing Group, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Nishan Book House in Vancouver, Canada, Oct 24. [Photo/sdyouyi.com.cn]

Attendees at the unveiling ceremony of the Nishan Book House at the Richmond Public Library in Vancouver, Canada, Oct 24. [Photo/sdyouyi.com.cn]