A LAUNCHING ceremony for the activities of the fourth Minors’ Reading Day, part of the city’s celebration of the 24th World Book Day, was held Wednesday at the Shenzhen Book City CBD store’s South Square steps in Futian District, the sznews.com reported.

During World Book Day, which is observed April 23, the city will organize 540 reading and cultural activities. Eminent scholars including Wang Jingsheng, counselor of the State Council, Fan Xi’an and Zhang Kangkang will gather at Shenzhen Library on World Book Day to share opinions on the topic “Reading Citywide: National Strategy and City Choice.”

The city reading report, compiled by the Shenzhen Reading Citywide Research and Promotion Center, was also unveiled at the ceremony.

The report said that Shenzhen’s reading index last year clocked in at 98.14, up 5.67 points compared to that of 2017 with an increase of 6.14 percent.

Shenzhen is the first city in the country to release a city-based report on the reading industry, and the report has been issued for four consecutive years, according to the report.

This year’s report includes 23 articles containing roughly 300,000 words and covering seven research areas including a general reading report, general reading research, digital reading research and reading platform research.

A feature article written by Li Xiaogan, head of the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC, drives home the role of reading in facilitating cultural innovation, and shares the city’s experience in promoting reading among residents and building an innovative city.

A total of 41 reading promoters have organized 300 grass-roots reading activities in 10 districts and new area across the city since April, the report said.

Grass-roots activities of this kind so far have invited 59 promoters to participate in nearly 800 activities, attracting around 50,000 residents.

April 23 has also been designated by the Shenzhen city government as the Minors’ Reading Day to encourage reading among children and teenagers.

Popular Chinese authors such as Zhu Xun, Anthony and Ma Boyong will share their new books with readers at the Shenzhen Book City.

(Wang Jingli)