As the 31st edition of the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) prepares to open its doors from June 18 to 22, organizers have announced a strong focus on academic publishing and international dialogue, with a robust lineup of professional conferences complementing the public-facing book fair.
Among the high-profile speakers confirmed for the event is Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. Fleming will appear at the International Publishing Forum on June 19, where she will address issues surrounding digital media and the global challenge of disinformation. Fleming previously delivered the keynote at the International Publishers Association (IPA) Congress in Guadalajara last December and is widely regarded for her insights into contemporary communication and media trends.
This year’s fair builds on its growing momentum. In 2024, the event hosted 1,600 exhibitors and welcomed approximately 300,000 visitors—an increase of 100,000 over the previous year. For 2025, organizers expect participation from 1,700 exhibitors representing up to 80 markets, including debut appearances by Bangladesh, Chile, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Kenya, and Oman.
A hallmark of this year’s programming is the emphasis on professional content, particularly in the realm of academic and scientific publishing. Featured segments include the Academic Digital Publishing Hub and the STM APAC Conference, reinforcing BIBF’s role as a regional center for scholarly communication and innovation.
The International Publishing Forum, running from 9:30 a.m. to noon on June 19, will bring together key figures in global publishing. In addition to Fleming, the speaker lineup includes:
Chang Bo, China Publishing Group
Gvantsa Jobava, President, IPA
Niels Peter Thomas, Springer Nature
Wong Kah Woh, Deputy Minister of Education, Malaysia
Zhang Chaoyang, Chairman, Phoenix Publishing and Media Group
Christie Henry, President, Princeton University Press
Erik Nilsson, Senior Journalist, China Daily
Arnold Bergler, CEO, Peter Lang International Academic Publishing Group
The forum will explore the theme: “How digital breakthroughs and collaborative models can drive sustainable growth and innovation across borders.”
Another key professional event at the fair is the STM Conference: Open Driven by Innovation, scheduled for June 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This program will focus on the development strategies and innovative practices in open science, underscoring the rapid evolution of global research publishing.
As BIBF continues to expand both its international reach and professional offerings, this year’s edition promises to deepen the fair’s role as a vital meeting point for the world’s publishing and academic communities.
