CRI听力:China's Cultural Exports Thriving

According to statistics from customs, among the top ten provinces in cultural exports, four are in central and western region, including Chongqing, Jiangxi, Anhui and Sichuan provinces, the export volume in these four regions account for about 24 percent of the total volume.

Expert Huang Guohua from the General Administration of Customs explains why this is.

"The central and western areas in China are rich in cultural resources that are very unique. When China steps up efforts to develop the cultural industry, the increase in cultural exports from the central and western regions doubles."

Cultural exports over the past ten months mainly focused on visual arts, prints and musical instruments.

The increasing volume of cultural exports and cultural sector restructuring indicates that the country's cultural and creative industry plays bigger role in the international market.

Huang Guohua says it also brings new opportunities for local cities and regions in China. For example, the total volume of cultural exports from Beijing reached 130 million US dollars, with an increase of about 11 percent.

Many cities and regions have stepped up efforts in developing cultural and creative industries by constructing cultural tariff-free zone and trade fairs.

With the increasing volume of cultural exports, private cultural commodities companies are playing a leading role in the field.

An art trading company in Xiamen city is currently applying to export 360 oil paintings.

The company says it's very convenient to export cultural products due to the special rules set up by local customs. Wang Long from the local customs in Xiamen explains.

"The special counters make everything much easier for enterprises when they apply to export cultural products. It takes them less time nowadays."

Zheng Liqin, head of the art trading company, says the volume of their exported oil paintings over the past ten months has increased about 40 percent, compared to the same period of last year.

"Having all the export procedures done more quickly and efficiently will help us with more shipments. And our products can reach our customers on time."

Zheng adds that they expect their export volume to see an increase of 40 percent next year. Currently, in Xiamen, there are 1,068 cultural product companies. Among them, 724 are private companies, and 70 percent of the trade volume for cultural products is from these private companies.

Expert Huang Guohua says both central and local governments have been encouraging private companies to enter the cultural industry through privileged policies.

For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.