A delegation of more than 170 representatives will depart for Beijing tomorrow to learn more about China's publishing environment and encourage cross-strait cultural exchanges.
Wu Kuei-yu (武奎煜), director of the Publishing Association, will lead the group. Chao Yi-hung (趙義弘), director of the Government Information Office's (GIO) department of publication affairs, and Ma Yi-kung (馬以工), a Control Yuan member, will serve as consultants on the mission. Governmental officials have said that they do not plan to meet with any Chinese officials during the visit.
The group will attend the Eighth International Book Fair in Beijing between Wednesday and Sunday. In addition, the group has also been invited to attend a seminar on cross-strait publishing and copyright issues, which also will be held on Sunday.
"Because the visit is non-governmental in nature, no meetings with Chinese officials will be arranged," said Chao.
"We merely hope to take advantage of this opportunity to get a better picture of China's publishing market by exchanging opinions with Chinese publishers, so in the future we know how to better serve Taiwanese readers and supply them with a broader selection of quality Chinese books."
Thirty-five publishers -- including Taiwan's larger publishing houses, such as the National Palace Museum, Linking Publishing Company (
Chao said books composed by Taiwanese writers are gaining popularity among China's readership, which could prove to be a lucrative market, given its size.
However, Chao added, China's regulations have severely hindered the prospects of foreign publishers gaining market share. The principal purpose of the group's trip is to communicate with Chinese publishers in the hope of building collaborative projects.
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