By Guo Xiaoyong, Executive Vice President
of the China International Publishing Group (CIPG)
October 12, 2011 in Frankfurt
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, Good afternoon!
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the ceremony for the release of Why and How the CPC Works in China. On behalf of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), I would like to express heartfelt thanks to you all.
After months of joint efforts by our Chinese and foreign colleagues, the Chinese and English versions of this book are finally ready to be unveiled. The location of today's ceremony here in the hometown of Marx and Engels, the authors of the Communist Manifesto, has particularly special historic and commemorative significance.
Over the past few years, when participating in international cultural exchange activities, I have been frequently asked about topics concerning the CPC's history and its way of governing the country, including what the legitimate foundation of the CPC's rule is and why the CPC remains popular despite its mistakes. To answer these questions, my colleagues planned this book.
Why and How the CPC Works in China, is an attempt by CIPG to introduce China and the CPC to the world. It provides the answers in a narrative and lets readers draw their own conclusions from the stories. By reviewing the history, achievements and experiences of the CPC in revolution and ruling the country, it helps readers both in China and other countries further understand the CPC. With its objectivity, authenticity, reliability and readability, the book has received unanimous acclaim from both experts and readers. Since the publication of the Chinese version, hundreds of Chinese and foreign media have given extensive coverage and recommendations, including Germany's Der Spiegel. The first printing sold more than 300,000 copies. During the London Book Fair held in April and the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) held in this September, publishers from Britain, Germany, France, Italy, South Korea and other countries have expressed their intention to buy the publishing rights.
At present, the Chinese version and English version of the book have been published in Hong Kong and the UK. New World Press has further expanded its readership with new technologies. With the help of China Mobile, the world's largest mobile carrier, the book was launched on wireless devices. Since it came online, the book has tallied more than 100,000 views in a very short time. Clearly, we are satisfying the diverse needs of readers.
China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the company I work for, is China's largest foreign-language publishing house. It has over 20 subsidiaries as well as nearly 20 overseas branches in the publication industry, printing and distributing foreign-language books, periodicals and online news services. It provides a wide range of China-related information in more than 40 languages to 180-odd countries and regions in the world. The annual sales volumes of books and other cultural products we export account for more than half of the national total.
For this year's book fair, CIPG has carefully chosen nearly 900 books it published recently. These books cover six categories, namely contemporary China, Chinese culture, Chinese literature, Chinese language, traditional Chinese medicine and children's books. Among them, foreign language books account for some 90 percent, with over 600 books in English, over 40 books in German, over 20 books in French and nearly 70 books in other languages such as Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, and Indonesian. These are good materials with which to better understand China. During the Frankfurt Book Fair, I hope we can establish extensive business relationships, strengthen cultural exchanges and share the fruits of human civilization.
I wish the book a successful run overseas! Thank you once again for attending today’s book launching ceremony. Thank you!