Mexico prepares to take part in worldwide celebration of Cer

MEXICO CITY, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Mexico is preparing to take part in worldwide celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the passing of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the Ministry of Culture announced Wednesday.

A great number of activities will be held in Mexico in homage to the author of world-famous novel "Don Quixote," beginning on April 23 and culminating in October with the 44th International Cervantino Festival in the town of Guanajuato, in north-central Mexico, Culture Minister Rafael Tovar y de Teresa said at a press conference.

He said the Cervantes 400 program would cover every dimension of Cervantes' works, as well as the inspiration and legacy he left behind for generations of artists and lovers of culture.

Cervantes, who was born near Madrid, Spain, in 1547 and died on April 22, 1616, is one of Spain's most famous writers. His novel "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha" is widely considered one of the world's greatest literary works and one of the most translated books into other languages.

Spanish ambassador to Mexico Luis Fernandez said that Cervantes is a universal figure with a multidimensional character that has transcended world literature.

This year, around 1,500 activities have been planned in 12 countries around the world, he said.

According to Fernandez, the Cervantes Prize, the most important prize for literature in Spain, will be awarded to Mexican writer Fernado del Paso on April 26.

Mariana Nunez Bespalova, the director general of publications for the Mexican Ministry of Culture, said that activities commemorating Cervantes will take place in emblematic Mexican settings, such as the Bellas Artes Palace in Mexico City.

During the celebration, Don Quixote reading rooms will be set up across Mexico starting from April 23. And 700 screens will be put up across the country to broadcast cultural activities, while the Libros Mexico program will begin a series of activities to introduce young people to literature.