Man of many words

An international nongovernmental and nonprofit organization established in 1953 with headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, the IBBY gathers together editors, writers, illustrators, librarians, professors, publishers and members of the media together to promote the writing and reading of children's books, with an aim to enhance communications and world peace.

The biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award, the world's top honor for children's content creators, was set up by the IBBY in 1956. Cao Wenxuan was the first Chinese writer to win the award in 2016.

Zhang's first contact with the organization began in 2002. Since then, in the big international family as he calls it, he has been serving as one of the ten members of the board's executive committee, before being nominated as its vice-president in 2016.

It was at this time that the international literary community began to become more familiar with the reading habits of Chinese children and recognize how Chinese writers and illustrators liked to mingle tradition with a contemporary outlook in their publications aimed at children.

Before Cao, Chinese writers tended only to make the long list for the Andersen award, and never advanced any further. In 2015, Wu Qing, professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University, was elected as the judge of the award. Subsequently, Xiong Liang made it to the illustrators' short list for the award in 2018.

Veteran publisher Li Xueqian says the presidency is not only a recognition of Zhang's previous efforts, but also a product of China's reform and opening-up process. The country's international standing and publishing industry have grown alongside the country's economic development.

People often cite Zhang as a perfect example of the "Chinese story", as his success has both mirrored and contributed to the progress the country has made.

Every step he has taken and the choices he has made seem to reflect this.