China will launch a national "book-reading campaign" next year
to improve the cultural and ethical quality of the whole country,
according to a circular released Monday.
The campaign was launched jointly by China's Publicity
Department of the CPC Central Committee, the General Administration
of Press and Publications and the Civilization Office of the
Central Communist Party Committee, the statement said.
The campaign, which was divided into three phases with different
themes, would publicize the advantages of reading books. It would
also recommend good books to readers across the country through
radio and television broadcasts, magazines, newspapers, websites
and short message services.
The first phase would launch during the upcoming Spring Festival
in February, a time when many people return to their hometowns. The
campaign suggested taking a good book with them to read in their
spare time.
An Olympic-related reading campaign would also be held at
unspecified dates after "World Reading Day" on April 23 and before
the August Games. This was to publicize Olympic knowledge around
the country.
The third topic was to commemorate the 30 years of China's
opening up. This involved holding some article writing contests
concerned with the reforms.
The reading campaign had been held annually since 2006 to show
China's support for World Reading Day.
(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2008)