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"Embrace digital, but don't give up on print," says publisher

Xinhua, May 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

"Embrace digital, but don't give up on print," said Tom Allen, president of the Association of American Publishers at the Chinese-American Publishing & Media Industry Forum held on Wednesday.

Among the challenges facing the publishing industry, the digital technology is recognized as an important one at the forum, which aims to enable communications between publishing professionals of the two countries on the development of the publishing industry chain amid a changing environment.

E-book revenues have been growing significantly over the past years, but now there is still growth but it is leveling up, according to Allen.

"What it speaks to me is that the effort by the Chinese publishers, both at home and here is one, that you may say, embrace digital, but don't give up on print. It is always going to be with us," said Allen.

The Chinese publishing authorities also pointed out the opportunities enjoyed by the publishing industry in China.

With the rapid economic and social development, the purchasing power of the Chinese people for published works also increases, offering an enormous opportunity for China's publishing industry, said Wu Shangzhi, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

"In 2014, the per capita GDP of China reached over 7,000 U.S. dollars and the consumption structure also changes, with a growing demand for cultural goods," said Wu.

As a major event of the BookExpo America (BEA) 2015, this year' s theme is "Development of the Publishing and Media Industry in the Internet Age."

"Mr. Wu said earlier today that there were 6,000 copyrighted works that came into China from other countries, and only 1,000 copyrighted works that went in the other direction. My reaction was that the opportunities are enormous for Chinese publishers to expand their reach into overseas markets," said Allen.

BookExpo America (BEA) 2015, the largest annual book trade fair in the United States, is held at the Javits Convention Center in New York City from Wednesday to Friday.

BEA, which dates back to 1947 and was then known as the American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Show, is usually held in a major U.S. city in late May or early June. It offers the largest selection of English language titles and is also the largest gathering of booksellers, librarians, retailers and book industry professionals in North America.

China, an emerging power in the international publishing industry, has been invited as the Guest of Honor for BEA 2015's Global Market Forum (GMF) program, which features three full days of education sessions, exhibits and off-site cultural events. Endite