Online shopping giant Amazon.com opened an online Chinese-language bookstore on Thursday in cooperation with a Chinese state-owned publishing group, according to a news release from Amazon.

The store is being jointly operated by Amazon and the China International Publishing Group (CIPG) as part of a global promotional program for Chinese books initiated by the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) in 2010.

The store is intended to allow readers from all over the world to have the opportunity to enjoy Chinese books, as well as improve cultural exchanges between China and other countries, according to Jon P. Fine, a senior manager at Amazon.

In addition to Chinese publications, books written about China by foreign writers will also be available in the store.

"China has many excellent publications suitable for the international market, but sales are restricted by limited marketing channels," Liu Binjie, head of the GAPP, was quoted as saying in the news release.

Liu said that he hopes Amazon's global marketing network will boost sales of Chinese books in the international market.