King Abdulaziz Library in Beijing
Iman Hammoud Al -Shammari
Since I visited China in 2022 and I intend to visit that Saudi edifice, which is in the heart of Beijing University, but I was not able to do so due to Corona’s circumstances at the time and closing the library.
A few days ago, I achieved my postponed desire and visited it, as I met Professor (Fu) the Arabic name (Amin) Arabic language teacher 40 years ago and took me on a tour between the corridors of Beijing University, that ancient university that shocks you with the beauty of its architectural design and its rich gardens, where it was in the style of the summer palace, which was built and resided by one of the ministers of the emperor to turn into a university founded in 1898, and a model city for students It contains housing, study, and scenic views that motivate the student and encourage him to join that ancient university, and provides him with a comfortable climate for study, in addition to providing libraries in it, the Beijing University library for old manuscripts, and King Abdulaziz Public Library.
The idea of the library began during the visit of King Abdullah – may God have mercy on him – to China in 2006, and turned into a truth during the reign of King Salman – may God protect him – who launched the opening in 2017, adding another dimension in the path of Saudi -Chinese relations, and a new framework in form to strengthen the relationship between the two countries away from politics or trade, but only cultural exchange. Being an optimal way to spread science, culture and knowledge in all languages of the world, and a bridge that links the Arab and Chinese civilizations, as well as a symbol of the Saudi -Chinese relationship.
A library contains 6 floors, 3 above the ground and 3 underground, with an area of 13 thousand square meters and with a capacity of more than 3 million books and manuscripts, and the building includes reading halls, lectures hall and literary forums, an exhibition center, in addition to the Center for Arab Chinese Studies, and the old manuscript library, in addition to the digital services provided by the library to students of various nationalities, supporting Arabic language education programs in Chinese universities, as well It contributes to the translation of books in both Arabic and Chinese to bring cultures closer and deepen the Kingdom’s knowledge closely by reading more details about them. A library is a window for students, academics and researchers, from which they overlook the desert of the Kingdom and open new horizons to enhance relations through cognitive communication and the latest technology. The first branch of the library comes in Casablanca in the Kingdom of Morocco, while the Beijing branch is the second branch.
The roots of relations between China and the Arabian Peninsula extend to thousands of years since the belt and the road, and this relationship still rises to new levels, but these exchanges are not only cultural but also friendly between the two countries.
