The London Book Fair Market Focus Professional and Cultural Programme, China: New Perspectives, New Concepts, will showcase Chinese publishers and writers at the London Book Fair (LBF) in April. It is claimed to be the largest Market Focus programme of events since LBF launched the Market Focus initiative in 2004.
The General Administration of Press and Publications of China (GAPP) and its partners China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation (CNPIEC) and China Universal Press & Publication Co. Ltd. (CUPP) have been working closely with LBF, the British Council and the Publishers Association (PA) to build a programme of professional and cultural activities both at the Fair and in the days preceding and after the Fair, at events around the UK.
The LBF Market Focus programme showcases one particular country or region of note each year, with the objective of putting the spotlight on publishing trade links with this territory, its publishing industry and the opportunities for conducting business with the rest of the world.
A professional programme of Market Focus seminars, events and industry debates has been created to support international publishers’ understanding of the Chinese market and highlight opportunities for mutual benefit. The main Market Focus Professional events will take place from April 16-18, including four high-level, half-day forums at Earls Court Exhibition Centre. A further 35 seminars will take place at the Fair covering all aspects of the Chinese publishing industry. There will also be a pavilion with over 180 Chinese publishers.
The Market Focus seminars are part of LBF’s Love Learning seminar programme of over 420 seminars, interviews and workshops taking place over the three days of the book fair, on the issues affecting the publishing industry today.
The British Council, now in its fifth year as strategic partner of LBF, has worked in wide consultation with its official partners, industry professionals, experts in the field and on research based over a number of years in the formation of the 2012 Market Focus Cultural Programme.
The selection of writers aims to showcase the very best of Chinese literature today representing the diversity of Chinese writing in all genres and inclusion of both established names and new writers. The delegation will be hosted in the UK in collaboration with the Chinese organising committee. Topics under discussion at the Fair will include ‘From Page to Screen’, ‘Modern Chinese Masters' ‘A Female Perspective, ‘Writing for the Digital World’, ‘Contemporary Chinese Poetry’ and ‘The Art of Publishing Literary Magazines’.
In addition to the 13 events held onsite at LBF, the authors will also take part in events at some of London’s popular cultural institutions including the Southbank Centre, the British Library, LRB, SOAS and Asia House.
