Publishers cater for worldwide demand
By Zhu liyong (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-09 14:36
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Readers in North America, Europe and other parts of the world will soon be able to find more books on China, says Wu Wei, vice-director-general of the State Council Information Office.
"A large number of these books would be from Chinese publishers or co-produced with Chinese partners," says Wu, who is also director of the China Book International Promotion and Planning Office.
In 2004, the State Council Information Office and the General Administration of Press and Publication launched the China Book International program to "make China known to different nations fully and truly".
It has greatly helped Chinese books and publishing companies go global with wide-ranging support such as subsidies (accounting for 50 percent of the total cost of a book), marketing at 15 major international book fairs including the Beijing International Book Fair, expertise in translation and professional training, says Wu.
Over the past three years, the China Book International program has provided financial support for 108 publishing houses in 27 countries with 645 book projects. A total of 893 books, published and distributed worldwide in 16 different languages, have cost 30 million yuan, says Wu, adding that more financial support will be offered in the coming years.
Official statistics show that last year, China exported 2,595 publications, a 27 percent growth year-on-year, and imported 11,101 publications, a 10 percent drop year-on-year.
But, Wu says, most of these copyrights trade are with neighboring countries and a very small proportion of them are with developed countries. "Chinese books have not gained enough attention from the mainstream publishing houses and readers in the West.
"China-specific themes and Chinese stories have been heating up in recent years in international markets; the Beijing Olympic Games has further aroused worldwide interest in China.
"The Chinese publishing community should seize this opportunity to expand both domestically and globally," Wu says.
