Multiple languages

But, in a unique move, Pathlight, an English-language magazine under the People's Literature Magazine, is exploring another way to offer Chinese writings to foreign readers.

For each version, Pathlight has two teams comprising both editors and translators－one Chinese and the other from a targeted language－working together to pick and translate Chinese literary works.

Shi Zhanjun, head of People's Literature Magazine, says the project now covers more than 10 languages with a focus on "both established writers and newer faces", and is expanding.

In another development, the minister says that the integrated development of publishing is something that he would like to expand.

He says the integration offered publishers and writers better opportunities since they are now the content providers and producers, giving them a better position compared with five years ago, when e-platforms were gaining popularity then.

The minister says that further integration would be pursued and that he had already selected 20 key laboratories for publishing integration.

In more news on the publishing front, Li Chunkai, vice-director of People's Literature Publishing House, reveals that their new media promotion project goes well, and he sees a revival of print book sales.

As customized books and audio books were grabbing attention from games, publishers like Li were feeling that more needed to be done in 2017.