Since China's reform and opening up, especially China's entry into WTO, some industries concerning publication have been opened up further. The foreign exchange and cooperation of China's publishing industry become more and more active and stepped into a new developing period.

1. China's present foreign publishing policies
Chinese Government respects and protects intellectual property rights. Chinese Government always attaches importance to the exchange and cooperation between Chinese publishing industry and that of other countries, encourages and supports Chinese publishing industry to actively introduce foreign excellent works to Chinese readers, and meanwhile, also actively advocates introduction of Chinese excellent works to foreign readers. Our persistent guideline is to support and promote exchanges between Chinese and foreign publishing industries in all fields.

(1) Publication: in accordance with "Regulations on Publication Management" and "Guidance Index for Foreign -Invested Industries", foreign businessmen are still not allowed to invest in publication field, namely, they are not allowed to invest in establishing publishing agencies of books, newspapers, periodicals, audiovisual products and electronic publications. Chinese and foreign publishers can conduct copyrights trade and publishing cooperation.

The Sino-foreign copyright trade has flourished in recent years. Some Chinese books and periodicals are published overseas in the form of copyright trade. For example, the copyright of A Dictionary of Chinese Characters in Chinese-English Bilingual Languages presented by Commercial Press International Co., Ltd. in 2000 has been bought by Singaporean, American, British, French, German and Canadian publishers. The copyright of Guangzhou Press's Xiaoping's Comments on Socialism was transferred to a Japanese press, and 200,000 volumes of the book were published in Japan. Through copyright transfer, the magazine Chinese National Geography of Japanese version was published in Japan in 2002. More than 20,000 volumes of the first issue and 30,000 volumes of the second issue were published. Publication of the magazine in English, Swedish and Malay versions are under negotiation. Export of copyrights has become an important way for China's publications to go abroad. According to statistics, the Chinese book publishing agencies exported totally 5362 copyrights from 1995 to 2003. In recent years, Chinese publishers introduced a large number of foreign copyrights. According to statistics, the Chinese books publishing agencies introduced a total of 58077 copyrights from overseas from 1995 to 2003.

A Comparison of the Numbers of Book Copyrights Introduced into China in 1995-2003

A Comparison of the Numbers of Book Copyrights Exported from China in 1995-2003

Cooperation in publication is a form of cooperation often taken between Chinese and foreign publishers. China Foreign Languages Bureau and US Yale University cooperatively prepare to publish Chinese Culture and Civilization, a series of books in more than 20 varieties, 2 of which have already been published. This is Sino-US cooperative project, with cooperative input of manpower and capital. The Chinese and English versions will be respectively published in China and the United States.

Sino-foreign periodical copyright cooperation is a form of cooperation between Chinese and foreign periodical publishers. Chinese periodicals can use the contents of foreign periodicals through long-term copyright cooperation. For several years, the Chinese periodicals authorized with the rights of cooperation of this form have improved their periodical quality to a considerable extent and have learned management ideas and methods from foreign periodicals to different extents. The cooperation positively promoted the development of China's periodical industry.

(2) Distribution: in accordance with China's commitments to its entry into WTO, "Regulations on Publication Management" and "Measures for the Administration of Foreign-Invested Books, Newspapers and Magazines Distribution Enterprises", China's book, newspaper and periodical retail markets have been opened up, and by the end of this year, the book, newspaper and periodical wholesale markets will also be opened up, namely, foreign businessmen can establish book, newspaper and periodical wholesale or retail enterprises in China with joint venture, cooperation or sole investment.

(3) Printing: in accordance with "Regulations on the Management of Printing Industry", "Guidance Index for Foreign-Invested Industries" and "Temporary Rules on the Establishment of Foreign-Invested Printing Enterprises", China allows foreign businessmen to invest in establishing package and decoration printing enterprises with joint venture, Sino-foreign cooperation or foreign sole investment, and allows them to establish the printing enterprises for the publications of Sino-foreign joint venture or Sino-foreign cooperation and other printed works.

In accordance with the State Council's decision on the third-time cancellation and adjustment of the projects of administrative examination and approval, those applying for the establishment of foreign-invested printing enterprises in China can go through relevant formalities directly at the publication administration departments and commercial departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central governments since July 1, 2004.

(4) Import and export of publications: in accordance with "Regulations on Publication Management", import of publications shall be managed by the state-authorized publications importers. The import of newspapers and periodicals shall be managed by the state-designated importers. No other unit or individual person can manage the imports. At present, there are altogether 38 authorized publications import and export corporations, among which, the following are designated by the publication administration departments of the State Council for newspapers and periodicals import and export: China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation, China International Book Trading Corporation, China Publication Foreign Trade Corporation, China Educational Publications Import & Export Corporation, Shanghai Foreign Publications Trading Corporation and Beijing Zhongke Import & Export Corporation.

During seven years from 1997 to 2003, export of publications rose constantly. China's book exports rose from 2.2 million volumes to 4.65 million volumes and the sum rose from 9.27 million dollars to 18.67 million dollars. Export of newspapers rose from 200,000 volumes to 800,000 volumes and the sum rose from 150,000 dollars to 980,000 dollars. Audiovisual products rose from 20,000 cases (pieces) to 1.289 million cases (pieces) and the sum rose from 190,000 dollars to 1.12 million dollars. Electronic publications rose from 907 pieces to 37,534 pieces, and the sum rose from 30,000 dollars to 270,000 dollars. Though the number of periodicals decreased from 2.56 million volumes to 2.21 million volumes, the sum rose from 2.68 million dollars to 3.65 million dollars.

In recent years, China puts the emphasis of importation on the products urgently needed, such as science and technologies, management, etc. The number and structure of the importation basically meet China's strategic requirements. For example, from the view of overall structure, import of periodicals costs the most of foreign currency. In 2003, this part of imports cost 97 million dollars, accounting for 57.5% of the total foreign currency amount for publications import. In 2002, it cost foreign currency of 61.2 million dollars, accounting for 57% of the total currency amount for publications import. In 2001, it cost 32.11 million dollars, accounting for 45% of the total foreign currency amount for publications import. In 2000, it cost 27.34 million dollars, accounting for 47% of the total foreign currency for publications import. Most of the periodicals were academic ones urgently needed for China's scientific and technological research and education. From the view of book import structure: in 2003, China imported 2.85 million volumes of books costing 37.5 million dollars. Among them, the books of natural science and technologies were 690,000 volumes, costing 13.97 million dollars and accounting for 37% of the total sum of book importation. In 2002, altogether 2.58 million volumes of books, costing 26.22 million dollars, were imported. Among them, books of natural science and technologies were 540,000 volumes, costing 10.18 million dollars and accounting for 39% of the total sum of book importation. In 2001, altogether 2.49 million volumes of books, costing 28.25 million dollars, were imported. Among them, books of natural science and technologies were 370,000 volumes, costing 11.01 million dollars and accounting for 39% of the total sum of book importation. In 2000, altogether 2.08 million volumes of books, costing 24.30 million dollars, were imported. Among them, books of natural science and technologies were 470,000 volumes, costing 10.68 million dollars and accounting for 44%. In addition, books of literature, arts, philosophy, social science and comprehensive usages also account for high proportions. Through introduction, the time differences for China to obtain cultural and scientific and technological information is greatly shortened. Much information, such as computer technology books and periodicals, business and management books and periodicals, etc., can be published almost simultaneously with overseas. Foreign scientific and technological development provides powerful intellectual support for Chinese national economic construction.

2. Actively Conduct Exchange between Chinese and Foreign Publishing Industries

China has joined the following organizations of international publishing industry: International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP), International Booksellers Federation (IBF), International Standard Book Number (ISBN), Asia-Pacific Publishers Association (APPA), International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), World Printing Conference (WPC), ACCU, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) and International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), etc.

As the rapid development of China's publishing industry promotes Sino-foreign publishing exchanges and cooperation, the exchange of publishing business becomes more active and extensive. Every year Chinese publishers send delegates to attend more than 20 international book fairs, such as German Frankfurt Book Fair, US Book Fair, British London Book Fair, French Book Salon, Italian Bologna Children's Book Fair, Australia Book Fair, Japan Book Fair, Singapore Book Fair, etc. The active participation in the international book fairs promotes Sino-foreign copyright trade and import and export of publications. Business contact between Chinese and foreign publishers becomes closer and closer, and China's publishing market has joined up with the international publishing market.