LUANDA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Angolan writer Manuel Rui Alves Monteiro released the first edition of his book "I wish I Were a Wave" in Mandarin here Friday.

The book was translated by Chinese scholar and researcher Shang Jinge.

A thousand copies of the book are being made available to readers at present.

At the launching ceremony, Rui said he was pleased to see his work translated into Mandarin, which he hoped would help enhance cultural exchanges between Angola and China.

Also, the political counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Angola, Li Bin, stressed the importance of cultural exchanges in strengthening ties between the two countries and peoples.

Li recalled that the embassy has been promoting movies, TV series and exhibitions on Chinese culture, as well as other activities aimed at boosting cultural cooperation.

The book, first published in 1982, portrays the saga of two children and a pig, with the main setting in post-independence Luanda.

The book has already been translated into the native Umbundu, Spanish, French, Hebrew and now Mandarin.

Rui was born in the southern province of Huambo in 1941. He graduated in law from the University of Coimbra, Portugal.

He is an essayist, chronicler and poet who has also composed the national anthem of Angola.