Photo via ecpa.org

30 Chinese publishers to attend Hong Kong publishing event

Having long sensed an opportunity for kingdom work in China, the Global Publishers Alliance (GPA), a sister organization of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), has been actively pursuing avenues for the introduction of Christian literature in the Chinese market for the past five years, reports Michael Ireland, chief correspondent, ASSIST News Service.

To that end, according to a media release obtained by ASSIST News, GPA has represented Christian publishers at the annual Beijing International Book Fair for three years.

GPA’s program at these events includes seminars, speakers, bookstore tours, "facetime" with Chinese publishers, translators, and cultural experiences, the release says.

"The program has yielded increasing returns every year. Unfortunately, the presence of the Olympic games in Beijing has made the annual GPA book fair in that location a logistical impossibility," the release states.

The release explains that a change of venue has actually resulted in an even greater opportunity for American Christian publishers looking to license their content in Chinese language editions.

For the past four years, CTAI (Christian Trade Associates International) has been hosting an event similar to the Beijing Book Fair in Hong Kong that attracts publishers from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore. On September 7-9, 2008, GPA and CTAI will combine resources to present a massive book fair in Hong Kong.

The release says: "The Board of GPA, along with ECPA, view this event as one of the major ministry opportunities currently available to the Christian publishing industry, and this year’s book fair is shaping up to be the best event yet."

GPA extended invitations to 35 mainland publishers with some experience in religious publishing. Of those invitees, 30 have agreed to attend.

“Not only will this event continue to develop the promising relationships we have established with these Chinese publishers, but it will also expand the borders of this ministry,” says Dan Balow, GPA board chairman. “Now is the time for North American publishers to make plans to seize this opportunity.”

GPA President John Eames added: “The combination of mainland publishers plus the normal attendees of the annual CTAI conference will make this a great deal for American publishers. Basically, it’s like attending two book fairs for the price of one. GPA underwrites approximately 2/3 of the total cost of the fair in order to lower the financial barrier so that every ECPA member has the opportunity to participate.”

The release says that for the Christian publishing industry, there can be no greater endeavor than to satisfy the spiritual needs of those who truly hunger and thirst for righteousness.

“The church in China has been experiencing explosive growth over the last several years. At the same time, there is a dearth of good quality materials for follow-up and discipleship,” Eames says.

He added: “A wealth of content on these specific topics has been developed in the West, and this year the member publishers of ECPA have a unique opportunity to make those materials available not just to the people in China but to an even wider audience.”

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[07/08/2008]

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