Guests from China and U.S. attend the opening ceremony of China-Guest of Honor 2015 BookExpo America's Global Market Forum in New York, the United States, on May 27, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

It was only the third time, after 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany, and 2012 in London, Britain, that China had become the guest of honor at a top-notch book trade fair held in any major Western countries, noted Wu Shangzhi, vice minister of China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, while addressing the hour-long ceremony on Wednesday morning.

It is also the largest ever exchange between publishing professionals of both countries since China and the United States established diplomatic ties in 1979, he added.