China has launched a marketing project to promote Chinese books and printed publications in the global market, a General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) official said Friday.

The project will include: cooperation with international and regional marketing networks; the organization of book fairs for overseas Chinese bookstores; an investigation into online sales; and marketing networks through online book stores, said Zhang Fuhai, director of GAPP's foreign exchange and cooperation department.

Efforts will also be made to promote the quality of Chinese books, Zhang said.

The development of global sales of Chinese printed publications has been relatively slow compared with the rapid growth of the digital publications exports.

According to Zhang, overseas sales of Chinese online game software in 2009 reached 109 million U.S. dollars, a 53.9 percent year-on-year increase, whereas overseas sales of Chinese printed publications totaled only 20 million U.S. dollars.

The marketing project will help overseas readers understand Chinese books, which will promote Chinese culture among the international community, Zhang said.