China to be guest of honor at BookExpo America
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E-mail China Daily, February 25, 2015
Chinese books and writers are to greet readers from the world's largest book market - the United States - as China will be guest of honor at the Global Market Forum of 2015 BookExpo America.
Under a recently signed agreement on China's participation in BEA, one of the world's biggest book gatherings, China will bring thousands of publishing and cultural professionals as well as writers to New York City to present their work from May 27 to 30 next year. The activities include panel debates, professional programs and author and cultural events.
"The agreement with China will be the largest partnership that the Global Market Forum has ever undertaken, and will also be the largest delegation ever to BEA," says Daniel Kritenbrink, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy to China, at the signing ceremony.
The BEA Global Market Forum has been inviting countries with "an advanced publishing infrastructure" to hold a series of events as the guest of honor. Since 2009, it has invited Spain, Italy, Russia and others.
"Selecting China was an easy decision as there is a great dynamic between China and the United States as well as China's continued growth as an economic power," Steven Rosato, event director of BEA from Reed Exhibitions, says in an e-mail.
"There is great opportunity for both the US and the Chinese publishing industries that will allow for both sides to see great benefits, being a win-win for the publishing industries in both countries," Rosato says.
He also adds that the scope and scale of the plans for China will make this the most ambitious international event ever mounted by BEA.
According to Wu Shulin, vice-director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, the US has been China's number one trader of copyright.
In 2011, 5,319 copyrights were bought and sold between the two markets; in 2012, the number was 5,965, amounting to one-quarter of China's total sum of copyright trade in the international market.
Wu says he hopes the effort for the 2015 BEA will help elevate global influence of Chinese publications, and "besides cultural and publishing exchanges, it will further enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two people".
Kritenbrink believes "the common love for literature is one of the many things that unites the US and China". He says people in the US have enjoyed reading works by Mo Yan and Ha Jin.
"This initiative will lead to greater business and publishing opportunities for both countries, as well as wider literary experiences for both readers," Kritenbrink adds.
"Promoting that type of mutual understanding (in literary exchanges) only makes our bilateral relationship even stronger," he says.
With an ideal of promoting Chinese books and authors globally, China has been actively involved in important international book fairs. It was the guest of honor of the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair and market focus of the 2012 London Book Fair.
Chinese publishers are excited to embrace one of the world's largest presentations of books, especially of English titles. Besides, the US market offers plenty of chances to introduce translated titles to the rest of the English-speaking world.
"US publishers and readers care more about a good story and quality writing. By breaking down many existing barriers, BEA is delivering a platform that will be a genuine showcase for Chinese publishers," Rosato says.
"It also can ensure there are quality translations from Chinese publishers that US publishers did not have the resources or ability to evaluate previously," he adds.
Rosato suggests "Plan, plan, plan and then plan some more" for Chinese publishers who're preparing for their BEA appearances.
"The more events they are able to plan in advance, the more they will increase their success - many times over," he says.
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