NAIROBI, Aug.23 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan publisher plans to rollout Chinese folktales for local readers by the middle of next year in order to boost Sino-Africa cultural cooperation, an official said on Thursday evening.

Kiarie Kamau, CEO of East African Educational Publishers told Xinhua in Nairobi that he is currently in discussions with Chinese publishers and printers to translate popular Chinese literature for Kenyan children.

"We want to publish culturally relevant stories from China's rich heritage which will be translated into English, Swahili and other African languages so that they are read by children in Kenya," Kamau said during the launch of a book on British explorer David Livingstone.

He noted that Chinese publishers have also expressed interest in translating African folktales into Chinese so that Chinese children are exposed to African culture at an early age.

"The idea is to break the territorial barriers so that both Chinese and Kenyan children understand each other from an early age so that by the time they interact as adults there is greater understanding of each other," he added.

He observed that books will be both for educational purposes and general readership.

Kiarie revealed that as the Chinese economy expands the Asian nation can no longer be ignored.

"Kenyans are now increasingly interacting with Chinese as they undertake infrastructure projects or trading activity," he added.

According to the East African Educational Publishers, Kenyans reading culture remains strong despite the huge influence of social media on the lives of both children and the youth.