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Mouloudji welcomed the President of the Arab Publishers Association, Mohamed Rashad, and his Secretary General, Bachart Chebaro, the President of the Jordanian Publishers Association, Jabr Abu Fares, the President of the Mauritanian Publishing and Distribution Union, Almaki Salami, the President of the National Book Publishers' Union (SNEL), Ahmed Madi, and a host of other publishers and writers.

In her welcoming address, the Minister hailed "the active participation" of all publishers in this year's fair, which celebrates Africa as the guest of honour, affirming that the country's high authorities, under the leadership of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, had decided, in parallel with the suspension of festive activities as a sign of solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people, to maintain the book fair, "because convinced of the vital and leading role of books in cultural resistance.”

The Minister said that "the special tribute to Palestine organized by the fair is an opportunity for intellectuals, creators and fair participants to show their solidarity with the Palestinian cause at this difficult time.”

In this regard, the Minister announced that Algeria "will be taking part in a major international event this year in the city of Adrar, called “Adrar, Capital of African Culture.”

For his part, the President of the Union of Arab Publishers, speaking on behalf of Arab publishers, thanked, through the Minister of Culture and Arts, the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who "attaches books and publishing a special interest", recalling the decision taken by the President of the Republic in the previous edition to make stands free of charge.[/ecr]