Children's book forum discusses market future in post-pandemic era

The second China-ASEAN Children's Publishing Forum, a key event during the Beijing International Book Fair which was co-sponsored by the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co Ltd and Jieli Publishing House, took place on Thursday.

Surrounding the theme of "The Changes in the Children's Publishing Market in China and ASEAN Countries and the Cooperation Strategies in Post-pandemic Era", guests shared their insights and opinions, with some attending the forum via online streaming.

Speeches were given by Wu Shulin, executive vice-president of The Publishers Association of China; Xia Yunhai, deputy director general of the Overseas Promotion Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Li Yaying, deputy director of the Education, Culture and Tourism Division of the ASEAN-China Centre; Zhang Mingzhou, chairman of the International Board on Books for Young People; Sun Zhu, president of the Chinese Board on Books for Young People[this is too long -- we need to choose only one of these titles]; Lin Liying, deputy general manager of the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co Ltd; Shi Weiwen, deputy general manager of the Guangxi Publishing & Media Group; Zhang Zhengyan, head of the Publishing Promotion Division of the Overseas Promotion Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; representatives from the Chinese children's publication industry including Huang Jian, Wang Yongbo, Bo Dawei and Zhang Yihui; and representatives from ASEAN and South Asian countries including Yang Zhenxia, Noni Mira Timotius, Nguyen Hong Hanh and Dinesh Kulatunga. The forum was hosted by Bai Bing, editor-in-chief of the Jieli Publishing House.

Representatives of 11 publishing institutions from six ASEAN countries, two publishing houses from South Asian countries and 19 children's publishing houses from China attended the forum.

Wu Shulin believes that to do a good job in children's publishing is to strengthen the cultural foundation of the globe and build a world of peace and friendship. "Children are our future, and planting the seeds of cultural identity among children in various countries is of great significance for the development of the future world," he said.

Bai Bing introduced the China-ASEAN Children Books' Cooperation Project with keynote speakers and attending guests. According the editor-in-chief, the project aims to include more publishing houses and offer young readers from ASEAN countries access to more Chinese children's books.