London Book Fair turns a page for Chinese publishers

LONDON — The London Book Fair, one of the world's premier publishing events, opened on March 11, highlighting China's publishing achievements, global collaborations, and growing influence in the industry.

Running through to March 13, the fair drew more than 30,000 publishing professionals and over 1,000 exhibitors worldwide.

"Book fairs like this and working with publishers globally, including those from China, are essential for sharing knowledge," says Martin Liu, chief operating officer and publisher at LID Publishing. His London-based company released the English edition of The Power of Time, a Chinese publication.

Liu notes that after the book's launch, he and his colleagues were "amazed" by the diversity and world-class quality of books from China and emphasizes that Chinese publishers play a crucial role in bringing Chinese literature and ideas to global readers.

At the China booth, more than 50 Chinese publishers and book trade companies showcased over 4,000 high-quality publications. The three-day event featured approximately 40 activities, including book launches, copyright signings, and reader seminars, underscoring country's commitment to fostering international literary dialogues.

Yang Hao, author of Diablo's Boys, expressed excitement ahead of the launch of her book's English edition. "I have waited a long time for this translation and publication and I am extremely excited," she said, adding that despite language differences, the book's essence remains intact. She also hopes that international readers appreciate the "different texture" of the translated version.

Amid the evolving global publishing landscape, Richard Charkin, former president of the International Publishers Association, says that the publishing industry has a responsibility to act as a "gatekeeper and purveyor" of quality information in an era where information reliability is increasingly challenged.

First launched in 1971, the book fair remains a key event for the literary world, with this year's theme being "Defining the Future of Creative Content".