Pressing Ahead with the Development of the “Belt and Road Initiative”
Founded in 1999, the Shanghai Century Publishing (Group) Co., Ltd. was the first publishing group across China approved by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the General Administration of Press and Publication.
The group has consistently produced publications which showcase the academic expertise, values, progress in contemporary China, providing a rich pipeline of high-quality content for export to related countries along the “Belt and Road”.
One of its key areas of focus has been its efforts to cooperate with the publishing industry in Vietnam. In the past three years, over 100 books in 20 different categories have been published in Vietnam. These showcase outstanding traditional Chinese cultural products, along with contemporary art works including Three Kingdoms (a picture story book) and the Records of the States in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
Picture: Vietnamese edition of Three Kingdoms (picture story book)
A second key area of focus has been to develop its range of translated Chinese works. The group has published titles such as China Wave, Touch China, China Horizon and Chinese Trilogy, which aim to “build a new concept, scope and expression which links China to the world, telling the authentic Chinese story with a Chinese voice”. The copyrights to such titles have been sold in traditional Chinese language as well as foreign-language editions in English, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, French, Spanish and Lao.
Picture: English edition of China Wave, traditional Chinese edition of Touch China, English edition of China Horizon
A third area of focus has been the export of multi-lingual copyrights of brand books. After the publication of Ten Thousand Whys (an original scientific brand), the copyrights for foreign-language editions in Vietnamese, Malaysian and Arabic have been sold. Local readers, especially juniors, have responded enthusiastically to these books.
Another important area for the Group is the expansion of large-size series of books. For example, the foreign edition of Cultural China has now been published in over 40 countries and regions, reaching a total of 1.2 million books. Among others, it is an important tool in the export of Chinese culture to global audiences.
Picture: Cultural China, polish edition (partial)
In addition, the group is exploring and developing various resources among countries along the “Belt and Road” by way of participating in international book fairs in Malaysia, UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Greece. This is part of its aim to increase the influence and competitiveness of Chinese books in overseas market.
Against this background of “going global” for Chinese publications, the Group will continue to develop excellent Chinese cultural products and build its brand in the export of such products. At the same time, it will continue to make important inroads along the “Belt and Road” through the “Cultural China” and “Reading in Shanghai” projects, and expand diversified channels for communications and sales. In these ways, its international influence and audience is becoming both broader and deeper.