A global congress of periodicals which will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing magazines will be held in Beijing from May 13 to 15.

More than 600 representatives from around 40 countries and regions will take part in the 36th International Federation of Periodical Press (FIPP) World Magazine Congress in Beijing, according to Li Dongdong, vice-minister of the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP).

Global magazine leaders, such as Time Warner and National Geographic, have confirmed their participation, said Li, also secretary-general of the event's organizing committee.

The keynote speakers include Long Xinmin, GAPP minister, Patrick J. McGovern, founder of International Data Group of the US, Jack Kliger, and president of Hachette Filipacchi Media of France.

It is only the second time that FIPP has chosen an Asian country to hold the biennial event, with Japan hosting it in 1997.

Donald D. Kummerfeld, president of FIPP, said: "I believe Beijing can do the same outstanding job it will do in holding a great Olympics next year."

The event will include topics such as the development strategy for digital publication of traditional magazines and increasing the proportion of advertisements in magazines

Nearly 200,000 magazines are published worldwide. Last year, China published 9,386 with a circulation of 2.85 billion copies.

(China Daily April 13, 2007)