Press and Publication of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is Exerting Its Region

In recent two years, Administration of press and publication of the Autonomous Region always took the “Going Global” work as the key point of the foreign publicity. Standing in the height of focusing on the center and serving the overall situation, it makes full use of regional advantages of xinjiang, expands the influence of the foreign publicity of the Autonomous Region. By adopting a series of new actions, it has some in-depth researches, lays a solid foundation, strives to expand foreign publishing trades and copyright trades, and the “Going Global” work of press and publication has achieved a great breakthrough.

I. Basic Information of Carrying Out the Foreign Publicity in Recent Two Years

( I ). Having Successfully Held The First China-Eurasia publishing Fair

Between September 3rd to 6th, 2012, The First China-Eurasia Publishing Fair was successfully held in Xinjiang International Exhibition Center, this current Publishing Fair was hosted together by the General Administration of Press and Publication and The people's Government of the Xinjiang uygur autonomous region, undertaken by Administration of Press and Publication of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Xinjiang International Expo Affairs Bureau. Holding of the “Publishing Fair” has strengthened publishing culture exchanges between China and Eurasian countries, promoted the cooperation of each party in aspects of copyright trade, publication import and export and development of publishing industry, and opened up an important window for exhibiting new products, new ways and new conceptions of Eurasian publishing.

This current Publishing Fair was attended by 11 countries such as Pakistan, Russia, India, Turkey, Kazakhstan, the U.S. and so on, 35 persons of 18 publishing agencies from Taiwan, Hong Kong and so on, 70 persons of 30 domestic publishing agencies, and leaders of Press and Publication Bureaus of 6 provinces like Shanxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Guangxi, Hebei, Heilongjiang. This Fair has totally exhibited over 870 kinds of overseas (offshore) books and over 5000 kinds of domestic books in the latest edition. This Publishing Fair has made the following achievements:

First is having successfully held the launching ceremony of “China-Eurasia Publishing Fair Sino-foreign Cooperative Publishing Books”, 40 kinds of books which cooperatively published by Pakistan, Kazakhstan, America New York Commercial Affairs, America International Writers Publishing House and other publishing agencies have been officially published and circulated. Second is having successfully held “The Ethnic Publication Cooperation and Development Forum”, and 6 Chinese and foreign well-known publishing experts have given a speech in this forum. Third is using exchange platform to extensively carrying out discussions about cooperations in publishing and copyright trades, and has achieved great success on domestic attraction and external connection. And it has come into an agreement of intent on the copyright export of 31 kinds of Chinese textbooks; come into an agreement on cooperatively publishing 10 kinds of books. Fourth is having realized 225 thousand Yuan incomes in total on book sales, fixed prices have exceeded 300 thousand Yuan in total, which offered a rich spiritual feast for attendant citizens.

(II). Having Successfully Held The 13th Mainland Book Fair-Xinjiang Theme Exhibition

Between November 23rd to 6th, 2012, undertaken by the Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau, The 13th Mainland Book Fair-Xinjiang Theme Exhibition was successfully held in Taipei. This current Xinjiang Theme Exhibition was attended by 12 publishing houses, 8 periodical presses, 2 printing and circulating units and relevant association member units. It exhibited over 1200 kinds of book, more than 20 audiovisual products and over 60 newspapers and periodicals. At the same time, it was also exhibiting and holding The Charming Xinjiang Photography Exhibition, Xinjiang Ethnic Musical Instruments Exhibition, Xinjiang Ethnic Clothing Exhibition and Xinjiang Ethnic Songs and Dances Performances. Centered on the Exhibition, it also held The Xinjiang Books Launching Ceremony, The Publication of Cross-strait Summit, The Ceremony of Presenting Fine Books to Taiwan Library Institutes, set Xinjiang Books Counter in Taipei World Books’ Bookstores and opened up the window for publicizing Xinjiang and publicizing Xinjiang books. Holding The 13th Mainland Book Fair-Xinjiang Theme Exhibition is the first attempt to hold a “Book Fair Theme Exhibition” and has enhanced the level of the book fair; since all the previous book fairs, it was the first time to plan and hold “The Publication of Cross-strait Summit” and has enhanced the rank of the activity; since all the previous book fairs, it was the first time to set “Xinjiang Books Counter” in Taiwan and has promoted exchange programs; since all the previous book fairs, it was the first time that has over 100 persons from the press of borderland Autonomous region to have communications in Taiwan. These pioneering works will leave the history and records in the process of cross--strait publication exchanges, and also will catalyze cross--strait publication exchanges in the future.

(III). Actively Participating in the China-Turkey Culture Year, Strengthening Publishing Cooperation With Turkey

Between November 15th to 23th, 2012, under the leadership of Liu Binjie, director of the General Administration, 10 persons from each publishing house of our Autonomous Region composed the Xinjiang Delegation, visited Turkey and participated in the China-Turkey Culture Year. Being as the main component of Chinese Delegation, our Autonomous Region Delegation has undertaken the work of "The Silk Road in China Xinjiang" Photography Exhibition. And at the same time, it selected 65 kinds of Xinjiang fine books to join the exhibition. The Photography Exhibition has been a bright spot of our country’s delegation in the Istanbul Book Fair, and has attracted many Turkish spectators to and gathered to watch it. Director Liu Binjie placed his high expectation on the way that Xinjiang using linguistic and geographical advantages to carry out a cooperation with Turkey on publishing, and put forward the demand that Xinjiang should undertake the important task in 2013 Istanbul Book Fair- China as a Guest of Honor.

(IV). Strengthening the Cooperation With Pakistan, Composing a Delegation and Visiting Pakistan to Carry out the Publishing Culture Exchange

Between February 15th to 19th, 2012, on the invitation of Pakistan Pakistan-Sino Society, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region organized 22 persons as Xinjiang Press and Publication Exchange Delegation to have a 5-day cultural exchange activity in Islamabad. The Delegation was received by the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and relevant ministries officials of Pakistan, and successively visited Pakistan’s culture, press and publication institutes. Xinjiang Art Photography Press has signed a publishing cooperation agreement on 11 kinds of books with Pakistan Good Neighbors Press, set China Xinjiang Books Counter in Pakistan Sayyid Bookstore and presented over 1200 books. The exchange was fruitful and was specially reported by China Press and Publishing Journal. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan spoke highly of this visit of Xinjiang Delegation and thought it was a new breakthrough that Chinese culture entering Pakistan for the first time.

(V). Composing Xinjiang Press and Publication Delegation to Participate in the Hong Kong Book Fair For the First Time

The Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau authorized Xinjiang Copyright Protection Association to compose Xinjiang Press and Publication Delegation to participate in the 23rd Hong Kong International Book Fair which was held in July this year for the first time. Debut of Xinjiang Press and Publication Delegation attracted high attention from citizens and the media in Hong Kong. Xinjiang edition books also achieved an excellent sales performance, 130 kinds of books nearly a thousand volumes have been exhibited, sales fixed prices have exceeded 100 thousand Yuan in total. The Delegation presented 28 kinds of books over 1500 volumes to 4 universities like The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and so on, The Chinese University of Hong Kong specially wrote a thank-you letter to The Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau.

II. Actively Setting up Overseas Stations and Enhancing the Propagation Force of Chinese Culture

As a member unit of Promotion Office, the Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau is always taking setting up publishing and circulating institutions in surrounding countries as the key point, and is supporting publishing units within the Autonomous Region to setting up publishing and circulating institutions in surrounding countries through the fund of Dongfeng Project and Good-neighborliness & frontier Project, and made a breakthrough in setting up overseas stations. Being supported by Xinjiang Copyright Protection Association and Xinjiang Foreign Cultural Exchange Association, through ways of having cooperation with Pakistan Middle School Committee and being supported by fund, Good Neighbors periodical office has set up Good Neighbors Press in Pakistan and set China Xinjiang Books Counter in Sayyid Bookstore which is the biggest bookstore in Pakistan. It has also set up the Friendship Bridge Press in Kazakhstan for publishing and circulating Good Neighbors journal in Cyrillic. Those two overseas presses are mainly publishing publications which are introducing related subjects of Xinjiang, China, and have taken good effect on publicizing Xinjiang and Chinese culture.

In addition, by the fund of Dongfeng Project, the Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau is supporting Xinjiang Economic Newspaper to set up newspapers and periodicals publishing institutions overseas. Continental Bridge has been settled in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan; Kazakhstan Overseas Chinese Newspaper and Kyrgyzstan Overseas Chinese Newspaper have also been settled in those two countries.

III. Working Experience

In recent two years, the Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau has made certain achievements in aspects of publishing Going Global and foreign publicity, and received a positive answer from The General Administration of Press and Publication and the government of the Autonomous Region. After summarizing the work in recent two years, we mainly have the following experience:

First is leadership’s attention, the publishing Going Out work of the Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau has obtained much attention from The General Administration of Press and Publication, The Party committee and government of the Autonomous Region. The General Administration of Press and Publication has listed Xinjiang as an important fulcrum for Going Global strategy, required Xinjiang to make full use of its advantages of beaming surrounding countries and actively build a platform for the copyright trade and the communication and cooperation. The leadership of The Party committee of the Autonomous Region attached a great importance on the cultural Going Global work, just as Zhang Chunxian put forward in The Speech in the Autonomous Region Cultural Work Conference: developing cultural foreign exchange projects, accelerating the cultural “Going Global” process, strengthening the attractiveness to inland and the influence on surrounding countries of Xinjiang culture, comprehensively improving the level of opening up of Xinjiang culture.

Second is meticulously planning and conscientiously implement. The Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau is always taking Going Out as its key emphasis in works. The leading party group of the bureau explored and innovated the work style, carefully studies Going Out works and put forward specific requirements; related business offices should carefully plan serious kinds of activities. From the stages of preparation to the implementation, they should control the qualification through the whole course, carefully implement, guarantee the fund and stuff, and lay a solid foundation. Under the leadership of the leading party group of the bureau, every office of the bureau performs its own functions, units and dedicates, bears hardships and stands hard work, thus ensures the successful operation of the major activities. And having trained with the team through carrying out all kinds of foreign publicities.

Third is making full use of various media, expanding the propaganda effect. In the process of carrying out Going Out works, the leading party group of the bureau attached great importance on propaganda function of the media. In each foreign publicities, the leading party group of the bureau would invite reporters from televisions, newspapers, Internet and other media to participate in the entire process, and would release the achievement in the media in time, thus expanded the effect of propaganda.

Fourth is having rich content and abundant styles. In the process of carrying out publishing Going Out foreign publicities, it can absorb various cultural elements with an open mind, but not restricts its activities to a designated area or sphere and just carries out the exhibition and cooperation of publishing. It integrated publishing Going out into the overall situation. It not only highlighted publishing themes in foreign publicities, but also carried out photo exhibitions, ethnic song and dance performances, ethnic costumes and ethnic musical instruments exhibitions; through ways of holding publishing forums, book donation ceremonies, book sales, setting Xinjiang book counters, it made the image of publishing foreign publicities more plentiful, and also publicized the development and culture of Xinjiang at the same time.

IV. Advices on Further Improving the “Going Out” of Press and Publication and Foreign Publicity

Xinjiang is located in the center of the Eurasian continent, it is a bridgehead of national opening to the west and has a regional advantage on beaming Central Asia, West Asia, South Asia and even countries of Arabia; Xinjiang is located in the middle part of ancient Silk Road, many kinds of culture were gathered in this place and therefore it has rich publishing resources; all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have the similar language and custom with surrounding countries, and have a cultural advantage on carrying out publishing communication and cooperation with surrounding countries. At the same time, Going Out work of Xinjiang press and publication is playing an important role in Going Out strategy of our country. The Propaganda Department and The General Administration of Press and Publication take Xinjiang as a key point to go to countries of Europe and Arabia. So, for Xinjiang, carrying out publishing “Going Global” not only has a unique condition, but also has a brilliant future. For fulfilling this work, we propose the following advices:

(I). Taking “China-Eurasia publishing Fair” as major cultural projects of the Autonomous Region, and making it as a cultural brand of our Region.

(II). Increasing financial input, and supporting Xinjiang press and publication to make a better Going Out. Neighboring 8 surrounding countries of our Region basically belong to less developed areas and are unlikely for our Region to achieve a substantial profit through copyright trade. Therefore, the key point for Going Out of Xinjiang press and publication should take expanding the influence of Chinese culture, strengthening the transmission force of Chinese culture, maintaining the social stability of Xinjiang as its primary missions. We hope the party committee and government could guarantee the production and distribution of Going Out publications by increasing financial input.

(III). Resource sharing of the foreign publicity should be realized. There are many units and departments involved in the foreign publicity, the effect will be not obvious if one department carries out a single foreign publicity alone. As the administrative department for foreign publicity, Foreign Affairs Office of the Autonomous Region could attempt to coordinate related foreign publicity resources offered by other relevant departments while guiding each department to carry out foreign publicities. In this way, it can not only enrich the content of the foreign publicity, but also can contribute to saving money and manpower.

V.The Publishing “Going Out” Works and Foreign Publicity Projects in 2013

1. Fulfilling the work of organizing and participate in the Kazakhstan Silk Road International Book Fair. The initial idea is organizing every publishing house in the Region to go to Kazakhstan and attend the Book Fair, holding a press conference during the period of the Book Fair, and sending invitations to publishing agencies of participating countries and inviting them to attend the 2nd China-Eurasia publishing Fair in 2014. Going to Kirghizia and presenting the published Manasi , going to Tajikistan and holding activities like the launching ceremony of Central Asia China Press.

2. Fulfilling the preparatory work of attending the 2013 Istanbul Book Fair- China as a Guest of Honor.

3. Cooperating with Shanghai Library, recommending Xinjiang edition books to overseas well-known libraries (both parties have the intention).

4. Continuing to implement the projects that cooperating with foreign partners to publish books.

5. Organizing groups to participate in relevant international book fairs.