CRI听力:Chinese Elements a Highlight at London Book Fair

The three-day book fair welcomes publishers from around 110 countries and regions, and 25,000 publishers, booksellers and literary agents.

More than 100 Chinese publishers attend the fair. The Market Focus, of which China is this year's country of honor will include dialogues between the 21 Chinese writers and their established British counterparts on various topics, 11 exhibitions, 10 professional forums and seminars as well as book launches.

China's top publicity administrator Li Changchun said at the opening ceremony during his four-day visit to Britain that the book fair will help to spread Chinese culture on the foreign soil and enhance understandings between peoples.

"The London Book Fair is one of the most important of its kind in the world. Being the country of honor at the London Book Fair, China believes that it will open an important window for foreign people to take a closer look at Chinese culture and provide a prime opportunity for Chinese publishers to learn from international peers."

The first Chinese event to be unveiled was an exhibition of original and up-to-date creations of Chinese seals and calligraphy by a famous Chinese artist.

Amy Webster, a project manager of the book fair hails China's increasing market potential and influence in the international publishing arena.

"China has gone through a lot of changes in terms of its publishing industry in the last few years. And now it is the biggest publishing market in the world at least in terms of volume. The UK is working with China over last twenty or so years. And China is now full of business opportunities with so many interesting literature and writers coming out of China. And there is a perfect time to capture all the opportunities to keep China a platform to showcase its publishing outcome."

China released over 300 thousand kinds of books and brought in 13,700 copyrights of foreign books to be published in China last year. The Prince Andrew, Duke of York believed it is essential to promote China-UK ties by enhancing bilateral cultural exchanges.

"This relationship between the United Kingdom and China is very very important to both of us. And where it is important is in the particular to do with culture and creativity and people. As both nations are extremely proud of our literary heritages, I think this is a right and proper way to recognize the creative industries in both our countries."

The London Book Fair was started in 1971, and was regarded as the world's second largest marketplace for copyrights trading only after the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany.

The Market Focus program was launched in 2004, under which the London Book Fair chooses a single country or region as the country of honor, with an aim to promote trade ties with the chosen country.

For CRI, this is Wei Tong.