Cross-strait publishers expect further exchanges

Li Ho, head of the New Taipei-based Planter Press Co., said Saturday that he expected the government to act to further boost cross-Taiwan Strait exchanges in the publishing industry, such as by reducing taxes on Taiwanese books exported to China.

Such a move will help increase the competitiveness of Taiwanese books in China, Li said, noting the price of a Taiwanese book is usually twice as high as books published in China.

Citing some 20 years of cross-strait cooperation in the publishing area via copyright purchases, visits by publishing representatives and participation in each other's book fairs, Li said it is time for the government to “take further actions.”

Li's remarks came during an interview with CNA on the sidelines of the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE). The annual fair, one of the largest in Asia, runs Feb. 1-6.

“Our ultimate goal is to expand the market for Taiwanese quality publications,” he said, adding that Taiwan's strength is in producing books with attractive designs and in its leadership in anticipating market demand.

At the Taipei book fair's opening ceremony, President Ma Ying-jeou said Taiwan and China should strengthen their publishing ties and that such priorities “should be on the list of issues to be discussed in cross-strait talks on cultural exchanges.”

Backing Ma's remarks, Li said he expects the issue of allowing Taiwan to publish books in China will be covered in the next round of cross-strait talks.

Noting China's policy on banning private companies from publishing books, Li suggested Beijing enact a special regulation that will allow Taiwan to set up “a publisher-like organization” to plan and publish books in China.

“This will help bring in Taiwan's techniques to China,” Li said. “It will also make it easier to produce products befitting the needs of readers in China.”

Yet realizing the difficulty of currently achieving that goal, Li said he hoped the idea will be carried out in the future and recommended the government begin with cross-strait negotiations on tax reductions for Taiwanese books exported to China.

Zhang Yan, vice general manager of Beijing International Rights Agency Co., also expressed positive views about closer Taiwan-China publishing ties based upon both sides' similarities in culture and language.

As it is impossible for Taiwan to open a publishing house in China in the near future, Zhang said, both sides could mull the possibility of launching “joint projects” to find materials for books and publishing them, which would be more cost-effective.

Following years of bilateral exchanges in the publishing industry, Taiwan has helped China to enhance its skills in printing books and making publications more attractive.

In terms of content, Taiwanese authors are far better at producing works laden with deep emotions, Zhang added.

Amid the global trend of digitalizing publications, Zhang also hoped both sides would seek cooperation in that area, as a move to expand access for readers in Taiwan and China to publications from each other's side.

Due to the cooperation between the Planter and the Beijing rights agency, dozens of books from China are for the first time on display at the Taipei book fair.

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