Beijing, Aug 26 (TIWN) This year's Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) will open online on September 26, with an estimated 400,000 books on display.

It will be the first virtual fair since the inaugural event back in 1986, the organizer said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The smart BIBF, utilizing new technologies such as big data and AI, will create an all-year-round communications platform for the international book publishing industry, according to the BIBF's website bibf.net/en.

With Cuba as the Country of Honor, the book fair has attracted more than 1,000 registered online exhibitors from 68 countries and regions, including 29 countries and regions along the Belt and Road routes, the organizer said.