October 10, 2026
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam put the book in direct confrontation with the challenges imposed by rapid technological transformations and artificial intelligence, stressing that the abundance of information does not necessarily mean depth of knowledge. This came in a speech he delivered during the opening of the Beirut International Arab Book Fair, where he stressed that restoring the Lebanese capital to its cultural role cannot be achieved by relying on steadfastness alone, but rather requires a real renaissance based on investment in education, culture and freedom of thought.
Salam pointed out that the occasion is not limited to celebrating the book only, but extends to include the thought and creativity it represents, and the historical role that Beirut has played over the decades in the Lebanese and Arab cultural scene. In this context, he touched on the transformations brought about by technology in receiving knowledge, indicating that artificial intelligence is now able to produce texts in a few seconds, while a book requires time to write, read, and contemplate to understand.
The Prime Minister believed that the book maintained its position despite the change in reading habits and publishing methods, stressing at the same time the increasing need for critical thought and the ability to distinguish between opinion and information, and between truth and deception. He explained that technology, despite its ability to provide millions of information, does not relieve a person of the responsibility of thinking and cannot replace the human conscience and creative imagination.
Salam recalled Beirut’s historical role as a space for the convergence of ideas and languages and a platform for Arab thinkers and writers who did not find platforms in their countries, basing this on the climate of freedom and openness that characterized the city. He also recalled UNESCO’s selection of Beirut as World Book Capital in 2009, then the Creative City of Literature in 2019, considering that these titles impose a double responsibility to preserve and develop this heritage.
Salam pointed to the challenges facing Lebanon, from successive economic crises and the Beirut port explosion to wars, displacement, and the migration of energies, coinciding with the emergence of new research and publishing centers in the Arab world and broader investment in cultural industries. He stressed that “the past is a source of strength when we draw inspiration from it, not when we dwell in it,” stressing that pride in what Beirut used to be should not be limited to simply singing its praises.
Regarding the reality of the local publishing sector, he pointed to the serious difficulties facing publishing houses and libraries in Lebanon, which coincide with the continuation of publications and cultural initiatives, the remarkable presence of young people who read and write, and exhibitions that attract the public.
Salam concluded by emphasizing that steadfastness preserves what remains, while the renaissance creates what did not exist, calling for the development of the publishing industry, libraries, and the translation movement, in addition to serious investment in the fields of education and culture within a society that believes in knowledge and freedom of thought and welcomes criticism and difference.
