China, with a long history, brilliant culture, splendid nature and unique custom is now changing with each passing day and it has become a focus of attention in the international world. People of different cultures are having a stronger desire to know more about China, either by personal experience or through media such as newspapers, magazines and internet. Yet, as the most traditional and widespread carrier of culture and tool for communication, books enjoy a capacity to help readers to learn and understand China more factually in a more integrated dimension. Thereupon, China Book International launched by Chinese government was an act based on this purpose, and the government subsidized publication of Chinese books and complimented away Sinic works to libraries abroad in order that people all over the world could better understand China.
China Book International dates back to China-France Culture Year in 2004, when China took part in the 24th Book Salon of France as a guest of honor in March. 70 kinds of Chinese books in French edition staked by the News Office of the State Council of China and translated and issued by French publishers received a warm welcome in the exhibition in the Book Salon. 1/3 of the French-Chinese books were sold within the short period of six days. It was the first time when French publishers translated Chinese books on a large scale and sold Chinese books through the mainstream distribution channels. The program in France indicates the active attitude of Chinese government to introduce China to the world by the agent of books, and it has undoubtedly broadened the channels and horizon for the world to know China.
Grounded on the success of the forementioned model, the News Office of the State Council of China and the General Administration of Press and Publication launched China Book International in the later year of 2004.
In 2005, we subscribed agreements of 170 kinds of books with financial support of 3 million yuan RMB with over 10 publishers in Britain, France, Japan, the United States, Australia and Singapore, some of which have been brought to press in succession
A working party for China Book International was established in January, 2006 by the State Council of China and the General Administration of Press and Publication. The working party works in an office situated in China Book Import & Export Corporation by a system in which discussion and execution are dealt with together. The members in the working party include units such as China Publishing Group, China International Publishing Group, China Science Publishing Group, The Beijing Publishing House Group, Shanghai Century Publishing Group, Guangdong Provincial Publishing Group Ltd, Shandong Publishing Group, Hunan Publishing Investment Holding Group Company Ltd, Liaoning Publishing Group, Chongqing Publishing Group, Phoenix Publishing & Media Group, Ltd, Sichuan Publishing Group, Zhejiang Publishing United Group, Ji Lin Publishing Group, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Beijing Language and Culture University Press, Qinghua University Press, China Intercontinental Press, the Information Center of the General Administration of Press and Publication and other famous national publishing organizations.
In 2006, the working party will further publicize and popularize the project in order to make it known to more publishers home and abroad and encourage them to join in the project. We’ll actively recommend books to be displayed in the international exhibitions and organize visits abroad for the domestic publishers to investigate the analogous programs so as to learn about their counterparts’ practice and implementation.
The domestic publishing units are expected to mass-recommend books to the working party twice a year. The first submission is handled from early January to the end of February and second, from early July to the end of August. Recommendations can also be given at any time accordingly. Books to be commended should be primarily about the changes in the fields of politics, economy and culture in the contemporary era of China, about the great research productions in China’s natural science and social science and about the valuable writings on Chinese traditional culture, literature and art.
The working party of China Book International will issue The Recommendation Bibliography for China Book International annually and will utilize agents such as book fairs, media, websites and magazines to introduce books to publishers home and abroad. The website of China Book International is as follows: www. chinabookinternational.cn.
After their books are fixed to enter into The Recommendation Bibliography for China Book International and the alienation of the copyrights is negotiated, each publishing unit should discuss with their foreign buyers and decide who is to apply for the subsidy.
A domestic publishing unit is required to apply to the working party by filling in an application form for the subsidy attached with a testified legal document of the oversea publisher and a copy of the agreement on the copyright-alienation. When oversea publishers make an application, they should also make out the above-mentioned form and provide the interrelated papers. They may apply through the Chinese Embassy, the Chinese Consulate or the copyright agencies in their countries. They can also apply directly to the working party. Application can be made for the works that haven’t been listed in the recommendation bibliography as well after their copyrights are attorned. And the procedure is just the same as mentioned.
The working party will check up the applications. Once an application accords with the qualifications for the stake, the State Council Information Office will sign the Subsidy Agreement with the applicant.
After the Subsidy Agreement is signed, the State Council Information Office will appropriate 50% of the entire sum. The rest part of the stake is to be allocated to the publisher after the subsidized book is issued in due form and some sample copies are provided.
It has always been the tenet of China Book International to illuminate China in the world and make her known to the different nations fully and truly. We will constantly enrich the project and ensure the trade of the book-copyrights and the export of the books. We are sure that China Book International will be a bridge linking up China with the world. |
