List of notable books brings attention to Chinese authors' accomplishments

Chinese academics selected 101 Chinese books that have been published since 1949 for translation and promotion to highlight accomplishments in the field.

The list was unveiled at an event in Beijing on Monday, with works ranging from Hugo Award winner Liu Cixin's trilogy Remembrance of Earth's Past to scientist Bai Donglu and Chen Kaixian's Advanced Medicinal Chemistry.

At the beginning of August, a panel of specialists including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and members of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences selected what they consider significant works: 37 books on humanities and social sciences, 34 on science and technology, and 30 on literature and arts.

"All of the 101 books are original books representing China's developments and accomplishments over the past 70 years," said Wei Yushan, director of the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication.

The book list was released during the 2019 China Book International Foreign Consultants Seminar.

Yu Yunquan, president of the Institute of Contemporary China and the World Studies, said books are the main medium for dialogue among civilizations, and books about China are becoming more influential.

Niels Peter Thomas, managing director for books at publisher Springer Nature, noticed that Chinese researchers are becoming the biggest source of their new orders, and the number of titles they publish together with Chinese authors in English has grown exponentially the past decade.

"We have been aligning our publishing priorities with China's national research and development strategy, including fields like advanced railway equipment and electric saving and new energy vehicles," Thomas said.

He said China's academic content needs to be published by international publications to get recognition from abroad.

Thomas mentioned HIV/AIDS in China and China Academic Library as successful examples whose influence can be measured through citations, electronic usage or international prices.

"The whole cooperation between us and China should be continued and expanded," he said. "We should also be open to new forms and new business models in publishing, which could make it much more easy for Chinese books to get attention, more citations, more downloads, and more influence."

China Book International is a promotion program launched in 2006 and sponsored by the PRC State Council Information Office and former general administration of press and publication.

Through translation grants, it promotes cooperation between Chinese and foreign publishers, encourages the publication of Chinese books overseas and facilitates easier access to premium Chinese books for foreign readers.

An exhibition entitled "Diversified World: Fruitful Accomplishment of International Cooperation Since 1949" was also being held during the seminar, aiming to reflect the publication and dissemination of Chinese books and the copyright trade in publications since 1949.

The exhibition included eight parts - Leader's Voice, Chinese Miracle, Dimensions of Culture, Brilliance of Literature and Art, Achievements in Academic Publication, World for Children, Charming Chinese Language and National Projects.