Arts Council England is currently exploring the Chinese publishing sector and its existing export links, particularly in relation to the UK and to supporting cultural exchange via literary translation, through their Grants for the arts programme.

As part of this work, the Arts Council commissioned this report in August 2006, to provide an understanding of how the Chinese literary publishing industry works:

* what are its trends and who are its key players

* what government support can be anticipated, particularly for translations

* what are the mechanisms for the export and reception of literature from China to the UK and vice versa

* what are the barriers and opportunities associated with this transaction

* recommendations on how the Arts Council, along with their partners, might aid in the dismantling of those barriers and support the pursuit of opportunities.

The report is based on primary and secondary research in the UK and China and on visits to the Beijing International Book Fair, August 2006, the Frankfurt International Book Fair, October 2006, and the 2006 Beijing International Publishing Forum.