Using Books as a Bridge: Connecting China and the World – Chinese Publications Inject Vibrant Energy into the Frankfurter Buchmesse

Wang Yuheng　Cui Yue

The 75th Frankfurter Buchmesse concluded on the 22nd after running for five days. Nearly a hundred Chinese publishing units showcased over 5，000 quality books and publications at the fair， holding more than ten splendid events promoting Chinese-Western cultural exchanges， making their presence a highlight of the exhibition.

As the largest publishing industry event in the world， the Frankfurter Buchmesse holds significant influence in the global book publishing and cultural sectors， serving as a vital platform where publishing organizations from various countries display their innovative accomplishments and enhance industry communication. Data from the Frankfurter Buchmesse indicates that the number of participating Chinese publishing institutions this year is the highest in the past five years. Chinese exhibitors showcased a dazzling array of distinctive books and publications and organized special events focusing on cultural exchanges， copyright trade， cultural communication， and opportunities in technological development.

During the fair， China Writers Association and China National Publications Import and Export （Group） Co.， Ltd. （CNPIEC） jointly launched the “Sailing Project” of the Literature Summit Plan for a New Era， initiating a global journey for Chinese literature accompanied by a book copyright signing ceremony. Claudia Kaiser （Chinese name： Ke Ledi）， the vice-chairwoman of the Frankfurt Book Fair， commented at the launch that she was delighted to see so many friends from the Chinese publishing community again and to witness the creativity theyve nurtured.

China International Communications Group （CICG， also known as the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration） and its subsidiary， China International Book Trading Corporation （CIBTC）， the only Chinese exhibitor to have participated in the fair 50 times， recently celebrated their 50th anniversary of attending the Frankfurt Book Fair. Lu Cairong， deputy president of CICG and deputy director of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration， noted that international book fairs like the one in Frankfurt serve as unique “media，” offering a platform for cultural exchange and mutual learning， significantly aiding the globalization of Chinese culture.

At this years fair， books on culture particularly garnered attention. Zhejiang University Press， in collaboration with Springer Nature Group， co-hosted the release of the English and German edition contract signing for the Liangu Civilization Series. They announced the completion of the 11-volume English translation and its cooperative publication， with plans for a subsequent German edition.

Tang Enping， president of Springer Nature Group for Greater China Area， stated their collaboration is based on a “shared vision for the international dissemination of Chinese research achievements and knowledge.” He anticipates further efforts to “open doors to exploration and understanding， bridging cultures and languages， allowing the Liangu civilization to reach a broader international audience.”

Additionally， Tongji University Press held a session introducing the German edition of their classic work on Chinese garden art， Shuo Yuan. Zhejiang Publishing United Group introduced their new book Xun Zhi with a sharing session， followed by a copyright export signing ceremony， signing an agreement with Beche Publishing House， Russia. Maximiliano Pagani， copyright director at Beche Publishing House， expressed that Xun Zhi offers foreigners a window into traditional Chinese paper-making techniques， believing it will be well-received by Russian readers.

On the opening day of the fair， Publishing & Media CNS signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Frankfurt Book Fair to foster Sino-foreign publishing exchanges， collaborating in content production， integrated development， and cultural services， all aimed at establishing a global publishing ecosystem. During the event， China Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press （FLTRP） and Springer Nature Group announced a joint global promotion of a MOOC on “Translating Chinese Thought and Culture，” marking the first time Chinese-themed content has been introduced to overseas audiences in the online course format， reaching users in 167 countries and regions.

Miriam Pütz （Chinese name： Pei Miya）， vice president of Humanities at Springer Nature Group， said in an interview，  “Launching a MOOC in collaboration with a Chinese publisher for the first time signifies a milestone in our partnership with FLTRP. We look forward to discovering more collaborative opportunities with our Chinese counterparts.”

Chinese publishing representatives who attended the fair expressed that being at such a large and influential event like the Frankfurt Book Fair allows insight into publishing industry trends and opportunities. They look forward to leveraging this platform to engage with international publishing entities， gain a deeper understanding of industry trends and emerging sectors， promote international cooperation， and seize opportunities amidst changes. （Contributing reporters： Shan Weiyi， Li Chao， Du Zheyu， He Lili， Xu Shunda）