Nourin Riden, a student from the Confucius Institute at Carthage University in Tunis, displays her calligraphy work at the 40th Tunis International Book Fair held in Tunis, Tunisia, on April 24, 2026. (Confucius Institute at Carthage University/Handout via Xinhua)

TUNIS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The 40th Tunis International Book Fair concluded Sunday in Tunis, drawing steady crowds to the Chinese pavilion, where books in Chinese, Arabic, and French covered topics ranging from society and politics to culture.

Since the fair opened on April 23, the pavilion has attracted sustained interest from visitors exploring language-learning materials, children's stories, and academic works.

Among them was Kalthoum, who was seen carefully leafing through a Chinese textbook. She said she recently rekindled her interest in the language after more than a decade.

"The last time I encountered the Chinese language was in middle school, more than 10 years ago. I still love this language," she said.

Hela Maarouf, a master's student in international relations, focused on works dealing with political theory and China's development. She said she was interested in China's social progress and its role in global affairs, describing openness as a defining feature of the country.

"Understanding China's development through reading is indispensable," she said, adding that she hopes to visit China one day.

Although China and Tunisia are separated by vast distances, Chinese books allow local readers to engage with the country, said Samah Abdelkader, who manages the pavilion. She said several hundred books were sold, including children's titles, language textbooks, and academic works.

She said she was especially moved when she saw parents guiding children toward bilingual books.

"Learning begins in early childhood. Doesn't this perfectly demonstrate the appeal of the Chinese language?" she said.

Yacine Jbeli, head of the Tunisian institute "Modern China and the Foundation of a New World," said the pavilion encouraged visitors to explore Chinese civilization.

He said the wide range of books offered a broad view of China and noted the strong turnout among young visitors.

"This delights me greatly, as it indicates that our vibrant demographic is turning its gaze toward China," he said.

The Confucius Institute at Carthage University also contributed to the fair with cultural performances and interactive activities.

Nourin Riden, a student at the institute, wore traditional Hanfu attire and wrote "Ping An Xi Le" ("Peace and Joy") in Chinese calligraphy, drawing interest from visitors who later tried calligraphy themselves.

"Each stroke requires patience. It's a process of cultivating the mind and body," she said. "I hope everyone can discover its charm through this experience."

A child reads a book at the Chinese pavilion at the 40th Tunis International Book Fair, held in Tunis, Tunisia, on May 2, 2026.  (Xinhua/Zhou Haojin)