Publishing Industry in The People's Republic of China - Overview

Overview

Since China began incorporation of its publishing industry in 2002, altogether 55 publishing groups have been set up. The largest, China Publishing Group (in Chinese: 中国出版集团), established in April 2003, has under its umbrella 12 large enterprises and institutes including the Commercial Press, the Zhonghua Book Company, the DSX Book Company, and the main store of the Xinhua Bookstore, China International Publishing Trade Corporation, and China Book Import and Export (Group) Corporation. The Group incorporates publishing and distribution of publications involving various media, chain stores, import and export, copyright trade, printing and copying, information service, technology development and financing. According to a national plan, by the end of 2005, China will have five to 10 publishing groups each with annual sales of between one and even 10 billion yuan; 10 to 20 periodicals with world-wide distribution and one or two periodical groups with annual sales of 300 to 500 million yuan.

Meanwhile, in accordance with China's undertakings to WTO, the State Press and Publication Administration of China issued the Administrative Measures on Foreign-Invested Book, Newspaper and Periodical Distribution Enterprises in May 2003, allowing foreign investors to engage in book, newspaper and periodical retailing as of May 1, 2003, and wholesaling as of December 1, 2004. It also stipulates that foreign investors must have the approval of the State Press and Publication Administration to establish book, newspaper and periodical retailing and wholesaling enterprises. At present, more than 60 foreign-invested enterprises have set up agencies in mainland China, preparing to apply for or in the process of applying for investment in and the establishment of book, newspaper and periodical distribution enterprises.