News

Book Expo: it's not just books and publishing

By Zhao Yunpeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-04 15:49

About 100,000 business people will attend the book expo, organizers said at 30-day countdown ceremony, on April 27. Zhao Yunpeng / For China Daily

One convenient way for Heilongjiang to increase its trade - domestically at least - is via its National Book Expo, China's largest publication trade show.

This year, the event - the 21st National Book Expo - will be held in the provincial capital of Harbin, May 27 to 30.

It was previously called the national book fair, until 2007, when it got the name change in Chongqing.

Over the past two decades, the expo has gone from being a mere book fair to a more comprehensive event with exhibits, information exchanges, networking and other cultural activities.

This year, the session's sponsors are the General Administration of Press and Publications and the Heilongjiang provincial government.

The organizers have said that the local government wants to do more than just be a trade facilitator. It wants to use this opportunity to showcase the province's recent publishing developments to help increase public interest in reading and to improve the "spiritual well being" of the local people.

The organizers said that about 100,000 business representatives from 31 provinces and regions - including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan - will take part. They represent publishers who have reserved nearly 4,000 booths for the event.

The organizing committee is asking for volunteers to help provide services, to augment its professional service team.

The committee have selected 12 hotels to provide accommodation for people attending the event.