China to be guest of honor at BookExpo America

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.