London Book Fair Turns a Page for Chinese Publishers
L ONDON-TheLondonBook Fair,one of the world's premier publishing events,opened /on March 11,highlighting China’s publishing achievements, global collaborations, and growing influence in the industry.
RunningthroughtoMarch13, the fairdrewmore than 30,ooo publishing professionals and over 1,000 exhibitors worldwide.
\"Bookfairslikethisand workingwithpublishers globally, includingthosefrom China, are essential for sharing knowledge,\" saysMartinLiu, chief operatingofficer and publisher at LID Publishing. His London-based company releasedtheEnglisheditionof ThePowerof Time,a Chinese publication.
Liunotesthatafterthebook'slaunch,heandhis colleagues wereamazed bythe diversityand worldclass qualityofbooks from China and emphasizes that Chinese publishers play a crucial role in bringing Chineseliterature and ideasto global readers.
At the China booth,more than 50 Chinese publishers andbook trade companies showcased over 4,000 high-qualitypublications.The three-day event featured approximately 4O activities,including book launches, copyright signings,and reader seminars, underscoring thecountry'scommitment to fosteringinternational literary dialogues.
YangHao,authorofDiablo'sBoys,expressed excitement ahead of the launch ofherbook's English edition.“I have waited a long time for this translation and publication and Iam extremely excited,\"she said,addingthat despitelanguage differences, the book'sessence remains intact.Shealso hopesthat international readersappreciatethe\"differenttexture” of the translated version.
Amid the evolving global publishing landscape, Richard Charkin, former presidentof the International Publishers Association, says that the publishing
industry has a responsibility to act as a“gatekeeper andpurveyor”ofqualityinformationinanera where information reliability is increasingly challenged.
First launched in 1971, the book fair remains a key event for the literary world,with thisyear's theme being“Defining theFuture of Creative Content.”
\"Speaking of China\" Sino-French Poetry Meeting and \"International Chinese Language Day\" Theme Event WasHeldatthe Chinese Cultural Centerin Paris n April, with International Chinese Language Day 一 approaching, the“Poetic Encounter -‘Speaking -ofChina'Sino-FrenchPoetryFestivaland ‘International Chinese Language Day' Theme Event” Wassuccessfullyheld atthe ChineseCultural Center in Paris. The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Cultural Centerin Parisand ChinaNational Publications Import amp; Export(Group) Corporation, and co-organized by the Hanlin Poetry Institute and the French Silk Road Press.The event brought together poets and scholars from China and France, using poetry as a bridge to connect the themes of the event through the launch of poetry collections,musica recitations, and exchange discussions, deepening cultural resonance between the two countriesfrom a dual cultural perspective.
The event wasattended by nearly 130 experts, scholars, and poetry enthusiasts from the literary and artistic circles of China and France,including: Chen Li, minister-counselor of the Chinese Embassy in France; Wang Meng, director of the Chinese News Reports About Publishing Culture Center in Paris; Catherine Ruggieri, inspector general of Cultural Affairs at the French Ministry of Culture; Josiane Gaude, first deputy mayor of the 7th Arrondissement of Paris; Zhao Lihong, Chinese poet,writer, and chairman of the Shanghai International PoetryFestival;Adonis,renowned Frenchpoet;Jean-PierreSiméon,directorof the Editions Gallimard Poetry collection; Sonia Bressler, philosopher and publisher; Zhang Ruling, poet, memberoftheToulousePoetryInstitute,andFrench director of the Hanlin Poetry Institute; Jean Pégouret recipient of the Chinese Ambassador Friendship Awardand internationalpoliticalscholar;Boucher Hollier Marie-Pierre,assistant secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization; Marie-Victoire Nantet, president of the Paul Claudel Association (granddaughter of the renowned French poet and diplomatPaul Claudel); Charles-Henri d'Aragon, Marquis,member of the Toulouse Poetry Institute and former French Ambassador to the Sovereign Military Order ofMalta. The distinguished guests gathered to share in this grand feast of poetry and intellectual exchange.
The event served as a poetic bridge and literary gathering, delving into the spiritual resonance between Chinese and Frenchpoetrythrough diverse artistic expressions.It showcased the charm of poetic arts frombothnationsandestablishedabroadplatformfor intellectual dialogue, further strengthening the cultural exchangebetweenChinaandFrance.Thisinitiative has injected new vitality of the era into promoting mutual learning between civilizations and deepening practicalcooperationinthehumanities.
The4th Sino-ThaiCultural and TranslationPublishingForum Was HeldinThailand nMarch, the4thSino-ThaiCultural and 1 Translation Publishing Forum, jointly organized T .by the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University and China National Sci-Tech Information Importamp;ExportCo.,Ltd.,wassuccessfullyheldat theChinese CultureActivity CenteroftheConfucius Instituteat ChulalongkornUniversity.Theforum was attended by over 90 participants, including:Xu Lan, education counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand; Dr.Amorn Petsom, associate professor, director of Chulalongkorn University Library; Dr.
Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director ofThailandChina Belt and Road Research Center; Chang Xiang, director of Bangkok Office, Center for Asia-Pacific, China International Communications Group; Wang Weizhong, deputy director of Higher Education Press; Ai Wenzhong, deputy director of Marketing and TeachingServicesDepartment,HigherEducation Press;Yang Xiaoyan, deputy editor-in-chiefof Guangxi Normal University Press Group; Tao Jia, director of International Department, Guangxi Normal University Press Group; Feng Yuxi, director of International Communication Center, People's Daily Digital Communication Co., Ltd.; Du Yining, Chinese director of Confucius Institute at Bansomdejchaopraya RajabhatUniversity(BSRU);Dr.ChawalitJujia,Thai director of Confucius Institute at BSRU; Liu Liyan, dean ofBeijing Language and Culture University Bangkok College;Luo Yong, dean of the International College of Chinese Language and Culture, Krirk University; Li Yan, deputy general manager of China National Sci-Tech Information Importamp; Export Co.,Ltd.; Fu Zengyou, senior advisor of Confucius Instituteat ChulalongkornUniversity;Dr.Han Shenglong,Chinese director of Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University; All Chinese and Thai faculty members of the institute and representatives fromvarious sectors ofThai society with interest in Sino-Thai cultural and translation publishing.
The successful holding of the 4thSino-Thai Cultural and Translation Publishing Forum has provided an important
platform to promote exchanges and development in cultural and translation publishing between China and Thailand.The Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University, together with China National Sci-Tech Information Import amp; Export Co.,Ltd.,will strive to establish this forum as a flagship initiative for Sino-Thai cultural exchange.Moving forward, the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University will remain true to its original mission, upholding theprinciples ofcomplementary strengths,resource sharing, serving Thai society,and continue advancing itsefforts to contribute toeducational and cultural exchangesbetweenChinaandThailand.
News Reports About Publishing
Everafter Books Wins 2025 Bologna PrizeforBestChildren'sPublisher
BookFairannouncedatPalazzoReEnzo that Everafter Books had won the 2025 Bologna PrizeforBest Children’sPublisheroftheYear.
TheBologna Children'sBook Fairisoneof themost influential global events in the children's publishing industry.The BolognaPrize forthe Best Children's Publishersof the Yearwasestablishedto recognize publishersworldwidethatdemonstrateexcellenceand innovation in children's book publishing.
Since its inception in 2o13, the annual prize hasbeen stronglysupportedbytheInternationalPublishers Association.Each year, it honors the most innovative, outstanding, and original publishers from six global regions:Africa; Caribbean,Central and SouthAmerica; North America;Asia;Europe;and Oceania for their professional achievementsand expertisedemonstrated during the previous year.
Theshortlist nominees were jointly recommended by exhibitorsat the Bologna Children's Book Fair, publishingassociations worldwide, and book and reading promotion organizations.The final winners wereselectedbythe fair'sexhibitors fromthis shortlist,with one publisherawarded from each of the six major regions.
The five winning publishers from the other five regions are:Africa: Imagnary House(South Africa); Caribbean,CentralandSouthAmerica:Companhia dasLetras (Brazil);North America:Candlewick Press (USA);Europe:Fatatrac (Italy); and Oceania:Mila's Books(New Zealand).
China'sEverafterBooksstood outasAsia'sawardwinning publisher,becoming the third children's publisher from Chinese Mainland to receive this prestigious honor.
In2025,EverafterBooksmaintaineditshigh publishingquality.So far,ithaspublishedover500 titles(7oo-odd volumes) across multiple product lines,including infant and young children's books, picture books,children's literature books,popular science and humanitiesbooks,bilingual Chinese and English readers,pop-upand toybooks,parenting and educational books, and more. It has won many prestigiouschildren's bookawards,includingthe Wenjin Book Awards (National Library of China); “Top 10 Children's Books of the Year”(Shenzhen ReadingMonth);“MyFavoriteChildren'sBook\" (National Children's Library). Its publications are frequently featured on prestigiouschildren's book recommendation lists throughout China.
Publishing SectorMust StartNew ChapterinAIEra
By Yang Yang
T in mid-March on“AI and Publishing Integration” in Beijing's Sanlian Taofen Bookstore invited industry leaders to explore how AI technology, particularly AI-generated content (AIGC), is transforming content creation, distribution, and copyright management while presenting challenges and opportunities for publishers.
Startingwith DeepSeek, JiangZhanfeng,head of the BeijingNormal UniversityAudio-Video Digital Publishing House, says that AIGC is fundamentally restructuringthepublishingindustry, impactingcontent creation, publishers’roles, digital platform operations and overalluses.
It also raises questions such as copyright, delineation of responsibilityand informationsecurity,headds.
An example is ancient Chinese book collation (including digitization),which involvespunctuation,annotation, emendation,translation,andothersteps,whichtend to cause intellectual property disputes.
“The problem with AI-generated output is that it might be News Reports About Publishing
highly similar, making it difficult to distinguish between independent collation,reference and plagiarism,\"says Hong Tao, the general manager of the Zhonghua Book Company Gulian (Beijing) Digital Media Technology Co
Credibilityconcernsand ethical securityissuesarealso challengesbrought on by AIGC, says Chen Yonggang, directorof the People's Medical PublishingHouse's digital center.
To tackle these challenges, the publishing industry must shift from merely producing content to becoming creatorsofaknowledge service ecosystem.This involves upgrading to provide high-quality interactive knowledge servicestousersthrough the integrationofbooks, professional knowledge basesand vertical intelligent agents, Chensays.
Zhu Jishun,president ofCentrin Ecloud Co.,Ltd, a publishing database platform, echoes Chen's thoughts
Hesaysthe essenceofartificial intelligence lies in reasoningthroughfactsandmodels.WhileAIexcelsin memorystorage and speed, it cannot surpasshumans in creativetaskslikewritingliterature.
Hesuggests that publishers leverage their content strengthsbytransformingphysical books into knowledge service platforms,fosteringcultural and creativeproducts and protecting their professional knowledge bases.
By establishing an enterprise resource planning system grounded in data and integrating AI technology for intelligentapplications, the industry will enhance processes like editing,printing,and distribution,he says.
Publisherscanalso useAI to break through traditional frameworksand find new growth points.For instance, Zhonghua Book Company is expanding its business into cultural heritage, cultural tourism, and creative industries.
However, in using AIGC, publishing houses must maintain their autonomy and independence and stand firm on their brands, Jiang warns.
AsAI impacts industries, itisalso changing readers' behavior and they are no longer obtaining definitive knowledge from books but are turning to “unreliable\" sources for“illusoryknowledge,\"whichmay lead to high-quality content in the publishing industry going unnoticed, says Xu Shengguo, director of the Publishing Research Instituteof the Chinese AcademyofPressand Publication.
On the other hand, AI presents opportunities, with knowledge and wisdom becoming the core and soul of the intelligent era. He says that although publishing may seem headed towards“death,”it is actually ushering in new development opportunities.
However,Du Jia, general manager of the Beijing Chinese Online Reading Company, says that in the AI era, publishing houses still need to focus on selecting quality works.
Asthe continuous lowering of the threshold for creation leads to a surge in writing, selecting quality work becomes crucial for the publishing industry, he says.
Whilethe industryhasalwaysbeenauthoritative, providingcreative toolsand services, itneedsto select qualityworkfromavastpoolofcontent,endorse them through rigorous processes, and promote them vigorously in the future.
Thiswill be the direction for the development of the publishingindustryin theAI era,hesays.