Chinese publishing officials explain plans for expanding into overseas markets at a press conference held in Beijing on December 9, 2010. [Shi Wenfang/China.org.cn]

Zhang Fuhai, of the General Administration of Press and Publication talks about plans to expand the overseas market for Chinese publications. [Shi Wenfang/China.org.cn]

Chinese publications are planning a major push into overseas markets as part of larger plan drawn up by the State Council – China's cabinet - to reinvigorate the country's cultural industry.

"Our aim is to establish an international marketing network for Chinese publications, expand exports, and increase market share and influence," Zhang Fuhai, of the General Administration of Press and Publication told a press conference in Beijing on December 9th.

The push is part of China's "Going Global" strategy and will be implemented during the Twelfth Five-year Plan period (2011-2015), according to Zhang.

"We want to promote China's best publications in Chinese and other languages so they become better known overseas," Zhang said.

Qi Pingjing, vice president of China International Publishing Group and general manager of China International Book Trading Corporation, talks to journalists in Beijing, December 9, 2010 [Shi Wenfang/China.org.cn]

One of the initiatives will be to organize exhibitions in 100 overseas bookstores, according to Qi Pingjing, general manager of China International Book Trading Corporation.

"This will be the biggest exhibition of its kind since 1949. In a context of declining purchasing power overseas, the exhibitions will give a much-needed boost to exports of Chinese publications," Qi said.

The exhibitions will start on December 16, 2010 in 100 Chinese bookstores in 27 countries, including Korea, Singapore and Japan, and will last one month. The principle target markets are overseas Chinese and foreigners who read Chinese, Qi said.