The Chinese versions of foreign magazines are not allowed to be published and distributed in the Chinese mainland, according to an official with China's publication administration.

He spoke in response to some reports claiming that three well-known US-based magazines, namely Newsweek, Forbes and Harvard Business Review, published their Chinese editions in China.

"This is not true, because the current laws and regulations of China prohibit such conduct," the official with the State Press and Publication Administration (SPPA) said.

No foreign magazines have been allowed to publish Chinese editions on the Chinese mainland except the US-based Business Week, which obtained permission in 1986, he said, noting that such a permit was given under a complicated situation.

"The Chinese versions of any other foreign magazines seen on the mainland were published in Hong Kong, Taiwan or other places, not here," said the official.

He said foreign publishers had other ways to cooperate with their Chinese counterparts, and some Chinese journals could use a certain amount of material from foreign magazines.

For instance, the current regulations stipulate that Chinese fashion magazines can use up to 50 percent of their material from foreign magazines, while as much as 70 percent can be used for science publications.

So far, 37 publishers on the Chinese mainland have been approved by SPPA to cooperate with foreign partners, said the official.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2003)