Roundtable for Belt and Road publishers and distributors held in Beijing

The Roundtable Meeting for Publishers and Distributors from Partner Countries of the Belt and Road Initiative was held on Monday in Beijing, drawing more than 100 representatives from the publishing industry globally.

Yu Yingfu, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers remarks at a roundtable for Belt and Road publishers and distributors in Beijing, Nov. 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG] 

Yu Yingfu, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), said that with the joint efforts of publishing agencies worldwide, readers across Belt and Road partner countries have developed better understanding of each other through various books. As the publishing industry undergoes great transformations, publishers must actively explore new forms of collaboration. Meaningful international publishing cooperation, he said, ultimately depends on strong content— books that carry depth, warmth, and clear cultural perspective, and that can serve as bridges across languages and cultures. He encouraged publishers to deepen collaboration in terms of embracing digital tools and developing creative products.

Lu Cairong, vice president of the Publishers Association of China (PAC) and director of the Publishing, Culture and Creativity Work Committee of the PAC, delivers remarks at a roundtable event in Beijing, Nov. 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

Lu Cairong, vice president of the Publishers Association of China (PAC) and director of the Publishing, Culture and Creativity Work Committee of the PAC, said that as Belt and Road cooperation progresses, cross-border book publishing has become increasingly important. He highlighted several priorities for advancing publishing cooperation among Belt and Road partner nations: creating smoother distribution and information-sharing channels, strengthening copyright collaboration to support both inbound and outbound quality titles, developing skilled translation talent, expanding digital distribution, and enhancing international visibility through joint participation in book fairs and exhibitions.

Participants from multiple countries shared the view that global publishing is facing fresh opportunities brought by the creative economy and technological advances. They called for initiatives such as cultural innovation centers and dedicated funding to support new talent, alongside stronger IP protections and efforts to expand the international presence of cultural and creative products. Many emphasized that publishing today must go beyond the printed page, and develop cultural experiences, IP extensions, and creative products that resonate across markets, as well as form a more flexible and future-oriented model of international engagement.

A dedicated exhibition of cultural and creative products was set up at the venue, showcasing nearly 1,000 exhibits from around 20 publishing houses and member organizations of the Publishing, Culture, and Creativity Work Committee of the PAC.

Exhibition of cultural and creative products at a roundtable in Beijing, Nov. 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG] 

The event was co-hosted by Foreign Languages Press and China International Book Trading Corporation, with support from the Publishing, Culture and Creativity Work Committee of the PAC.