The 3rd National Conference on Reading was held in Kunming, Yunnan, on Apr. 23. Vice Minister of Education Wang Jiayi attended the event and delivered a speech.

Wang stressed the importance of promoting a culture of reading among China’s youth. He highlighted the integral role of schools in fostering a love of reading and emphasized the need to integrate reading initiatives into national campaigns effectively. He also called for innovative ways to launch reading programs in order to attract wider participation.

Furthermore, the vice minister also urged continued efforts to mobilize resources and bring together stakeholders in order to create a reading-friendly environment. This includes transforming schools into hubs of reading activity, with teachers offering expert guidance and support. He stated that fostering a love of reading in young people is also a communal endeavor.

According to the vice minister, the MOE, in collaboration with six other government departments, has been implementing reading programs for young students. These include selecting best reading practices and “book-loving campuses,” arranging shared reading activities for elementary and secondary schools via the Smart Education of China platform and promoting a variety of reading activities.