China has met its commitment to the World Trade Organization
(WTO) to open its publication distribution and printing sectors to
foreign enterprises, an official said on Thursday.
Liu Binjie, vice director of the State Press and Publication
Administration said although the Chinese government prohibits
foreign enterprises from being the sole publisher of their own
books in China, the distribution of approved books and publications
is fully open to foreign and domestic enterprises in China.
He said the Chinese government has ratified 38 overseas-invested
publication distribution enterprises to operate in China and 14 of
them are entitled to wholesale distribution rights.
"Enterprises with exclusive ownership, joint venture and share
holder enterprises are all allowed to operate in the publication
and distribution sector, " said Liu.
He also said the Chinese government has currently approved more
than 2,000 printing enterprises with exclusive foreign ownership or
jointly invested by overseas and domestic capital to run businesses
in China.
(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2006)
