Perpusnas Receives Donation of 100 Book Titles from 11 Chinese Publishing Houses

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) received a donation of 100 book titles from 11 Chinese publishing institutions during a book donation ceremony held at the Perpusnas Service Facility Building in Jakarta on Saturday, 3 October 2026. This addition to the collection is expected to expand the knowledge resources available to the public while fostering the exchange of knowledge and cross-cultural understanding.

The ceremony was attended by the Head of Perpusnas, E. Aminudin Aziz; the Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Indonesia, Wang Siping; the Deputy General Manager of China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd., Li Yan; the Director General of the Xinhua News Agency Jakarta Bureau, Cao Kai; Yudil Chatim from the Directorate General of Non-formal and Informal Education (PNFI) at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education—who previously served as the Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing from 2022 to early 2026—as well as representatives from the Chinese publishing institutions.

The one hundred book titles received underwent a selection and curation process by Perpusnas in accordance with its collection development principles. From the materials offered by the 11 publishers, Perpusnas selected 100 titles to be added to its collection.

Perpusnas Head E. Aminudin Aziz expressed his appreciation to the Xinhua News Agency and the 11 participating Chinese publishing institutions. He noted that the initiative has resulted in a tangible contribution, providing information resources that can be utilized by readers in Indonesia.

“Books offer us the opportunity to get to know other societies through their own stories, ideas, and experiences. They help us understand how a society views its history, expresses its culture, and makes sense of the world around it,” said Aminudin.

Aminudin added that the collection covers a wide range of subjects, including history, culture, children's literature, and general knowledge. While the majority of the donated books are in Chinese, the collection also includes titles in English and Indonesian, thereby broadening the variety of resources available for the public to learn about China.

For students of the Chinese language, the collection serves as a resource for developing language skills while gaining insight into cultural contexts. For researchers, the books offer additional sources and perspectives.

For the general public, the collection is expected to spark an interest in exploring other cultures more deeply. The donation is also linked to the participation of Chinese publishers in the Indonesia International Book Fair.

Aminudin noted that the donation allows books previously showcased at the fair to remain accessible to readers through the National Library’s services long after the event has concluded. According to Aminudin, the process does not end with simply expanding the collection; the National Library bears the responsibility of processing the materials and ensuring they can be discovered, accessed, and utilized by the public.

He hopes the collection’s benefits will be directly felt by university students in need of references, researchers seeking new sources, and the general public wishing to gain a broader understanding of other nations' cultures. Meanwhile, Wang Siping, Cultural Counselor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Indonesia, noted that books serve as a simple yet enduring medium for cultural exchange and inter-civilizational learning.

According to Wang, the donated collection spans diverse fields, including culture, history, literature, science and technology, and language learning. He hopes the presence of these books at the National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas) will provide Indonesian readers with access to information about China while enriching the resources available for intellectual and academic exchange between the two nations.

“The significance of cultural exchange lies not only in transmission but also in dialogue; not merely in dissemination, but in the effort to build mutual understanding,” Wang stated.

He hopes the books will offer concrete benefits to readers and serve as a bridge to deepen mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries. Perpusnas also views this occasion as an opportunity to explore further cooperation.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday, 3 October 2026, potential collaborations include the exchange of publications, discussions with authors and publishers, and the sharing of professional expertise regarding collection development and library services.

Aminudin emphasized that such exchanges are also expected to create broader opportunities for the Chinese public to learn about Indonesia through Indonesian books and written works.