Publishing in China - The Next Step.

BookExpo America: Global Market Forum ,
Friday 30 May 2008. 1:00 - 5:30 pm. Rm 406B

BEA's Global Market Forum "Publishing in China . The next step" will present success stories, involving each Chinese and US participants; it will set out to map the dynamic market environment: What are the Chinese reading, in Chinese, but also imported titles in foreign languages - especially English? The Forum will analyse bestseller lists, present examples for the localisation of learning content, introduce Chinese publishers and editors both from large conglomerates and new innovative ventures, present English language resources of deep market information, and introduce a novel match making opportunity between Chinese and US participants.

China is probably today's most stunning book market, with 577 state owned publishing companies releasing 233.000 new titles per year and revenues of 7 bn $ - yet at an average price of only 1.5 $ per book.

Currently, China claims to spend some 150 million $ on importing some 14 million foreign titles and at the same time thousands of translation rights are sold every year to Chinese publishing groups.

But can buying rights and importing books on the global market places be more than a first step? In 2008, businesses in China and in the West are ready for the next step.

Books from China start to travel West on a broad scale, with titles like "Wolf Totem" (Penguin UK and US), Chinese TV personality Yue Dan's hugely successful notes on the ancient philosopher Confucius or, for young readers, "Naughty Boy" (Harper Collins) aiming at English language bestselling charts. At the same time, Chinese publishers not only translate books, but want to develop more complex and more lasting working relationships with publishing houses in the East. This applies notably to educational material which represents a particularly substantial part of the market. Yet the Chinese wish to not only translate material, but to 'localise' and adapt it for their local readership may stir up some controversy. In general, Chinese publishers want to enhance their business relationships to US publishers in ways that can be profitable and innovative for the partners at both ends.

Panel 1
Friday, May 30, 2008, 1:00pm - 2:00pm:

Chinese Reading .
Success stories between China and the West.
Books and issues that made it and opened the doors to the China publishing market.

Speakers and complete program.

Panel 2:
Friday, May 30, 2008, 2:30pm - 3:30pm:

Chinese publishing:
Mapping the Market, Extending the Partnerships.
Who is who, and who is doing what in the Chinese publishing market. How and where to find reliable and detailed market information - in English? What can a partnership do that a straight right sale can't? And why do Chinese want to localise certain books?

Speakers and complete program.

Panel 3
Friday, May 30, 2008, 4:00pm - 5:00pm:

Chinese Retail.
Bookshops, chain stores, import & export in China.
What is different in a Chinese book store? What are the main segments of the market? Who runs Chinese chain stores - and what do Chinese superstores look like? Who is importing foreign language titles into China?

Speakers and complete program.