Books on contemporary China welcomed by foreign publishers

Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurt Book Fair

The annual Frankfurt Book Fair lowered its curtain on Sunday. As the world's largest trade fair of its kind, each year 80 percent of the world's total publishing rights' are exchanged there. China has seen increasing volume of copyright trade at the fair in recent years, which is a boost for Chinese culture overseas.

China was the fair's guest of honor in 2009, a year in which China brought to the event a buzz about Chinese culture. Over the four years since then, this buzz has been growing.

Back in 2000, Chinese titles included in the event totalled just 2400. But by 2009 that number had increased to 6398. In 2000, China signed contracts on 953 items of copyright trade; twelve years later in 2012, the number climbed to 2682.

This year the China International Publishing Group says copyright export is expected to reach new heights.

As copyright trading volume grows, so too does foreign readers' interests in Chinese publications. Previously, traditional culture, history and philosophy was favoured. This has now turned to an interest in the reality of modern China.

Zhang Haiou, Editor-In-Chief, New World Press, said, "The titles Chinese exhibitors now bring to the fair are more and more about China today. And these kinds of books are welcomed by foreign publishers. So far our publishing house has discussed 300 items with foreign publishers, and we've signed some contracts. We're very confident in books that focus on contemporary China. They are usually well received by foreign publishers."

160 Chinese exhibitors have attended this year's fair. Exhibitors say instead of relying on promotional activities sponsored by the Chinese government, now Chinese books are attracting attention on their own. In addition, previously it was just the big publishing houses who attended, but now more small scale, less known publishers have a presence. Moreover, foreign publishers are seeking to promote their books to Chinese publishers and distributors at the fair, hoping to take a share of the promising Chinese book market.